The Impact of Atmospheric Temperature Variations on Glycaemic Patterns in Children and Young Adults with Type 1 Diabetes

Abstract

Seasonal variations in glycaemic patterns in children and young adults affected by type 1 diabetes are currently poorly studied. However, the spread of Flash Glucose Monitoring (FGM) and continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) systems and of dedicated platforms for the synchronization and conservation of CGM reports allows an efficient approach to the comprehension of these phenomena. Moreover, the impact that environmental parameters may have on glycaemic control takes on clinical relevance, implying a need to properly educate patients and their families. In this context, it can be investigated how blood glucose patterns in diabetic patients may have a link to outdoor temperatures. Therefore, in this study, the relationship between outdoor temperatures and glucose levels in diabetic patients, aged between 4 and 21 years old, has been analysed. For a one-year period (Autumn 2022–Summer 2023), seasonal variations in their CGM metrics (i.e., time in range (TIR), Time Above Range (TAR), Time Below Range (TBR), and coefficient of variation (CV)) were analysed with respect to atmospheric temperature. The results highlight a negative correlation between glucose in diabetic patients and temperature patterns (R value computed considering data for the entire year; Ry = −0.49), behaviour which is strongly confirmed by the analysis focused on the July 2023 heatwave (R = −0.67), which shows that during heatwave events, the anticorrelation is accentuated. The diurnal analysis shows how glucose levels fluctuate throughout the day, potentially correlating with atmospheric diurnal temperature changes in addition to the standard trend. Data captured during the July 2023 heatwave (17–21 July 2023) highlight pronounced deviations from the long-term average, signalling the rapid effects of extreme temperatures on glucose regulation. Our findings underscore the need to integrate meteorological parameters into diabetes management and clinical trial designs. These results suggest that structured diabetes self-management education of patients and their families should include adequate warnings about the effects of atmospheric temperature variations on the risk of hypoglycaemia and about the negative effects of excessive therapeutic inertia in the adjustment of insulin doses.

Keywords

• temperature
• type 1 diabetes
• climate change
• atmosphere
• glucose pattern