Sweet Dreams: Navigating Sleep and Diabetes with Dr. Stacey Simon

Intro:
In this episode of Embracing Diabetes, hosts Amy Stockwell and Dr. Liz Stevens talk with Dr. Stacey Simon, an associate professor of pediatrics and director of behavioral sleep medicine. Dr. Simon discusses her extensive research on the impact of insufficient sleep on health outcomes, particularly in adolescents with type 1 diabetes. The conversation delves into the challenges of managing diabetes-related sleep disruptions, the role of diabetes technology and practical strategies to improve sleep health. Dr. Simon emphasizes the importance of sleep for overall well-being and offers insights into how families can manage overnight diabetes care while ensuring better sleep. The episode is a valuable resource for understanding the critical relationship between sleep and diabetes, applicable to both teens and adults.

Bio:
Stacey L. Simon, PhD, DBSM, studied psychology and music performance at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, and received her master's and PhD in clinical and health psychology from the University of Florida. Her research in women’s health was inspired by the fact that females have historically been understudied in sleep research. Women have higher rates of insomnia than men while obstructive sleep apnea is less often diagnosed in females, perhaps due in part to poor recognition of their unique symptoms. These differences begin to emerge in adolescence, motivating Dr. Simon’s research with the intention to increase awareness around women’s sleep and promote good sleep health for women and girls.  

Dr. Simon currently sees patients in the sleep clinic at Children’s Hospital Colorado where she serves as the associate director of Behavioral Sleep Medicine in the division of Pediatric Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine. She sees children from infancy to young adulthood with behavioral sleep concerns, such as insomnia and circadian rhythm sleep disorders.   

Her current research is focused broadly on the mechanisms underlying the negative physical and mental health consequences of insufficient sleep and circadian misalignment in adolescents. With a number of evidence-based behavioral interventions for sleep problems, Dr. Simon finds it very rewarding to see how the entire family benefits when children are sleeping well.