TL;DR
Get health and wellness essentials delivered free — and shop member deals
- Fast, free delivery on millions of items
- Access to Prime Big Deal Days deals on October 6–7
- Prime Video, Amazon Music and more included
A study of 400 people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes, presented at the EASD 2026 meeting in Milan, found that days with more glucose variability were followed by better next-day quality of life, while more time in the safe glucose range also predicted better well-being. Researchers say the findings do not mean poor control is beneficial, but suggest that the burden of trying to eliminate every glucose fluctuation may reduce enjoyment of daily life.
People with type 1 or type 2 diabetes reported better quality of life after days when their blood sugar fluctuated more, provided levels stayed within safe limits, according to a German study of 400 adults presented at the Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) in Milan (Sept. 28 – Oct. 2, 2026). The researchers, led by Professor Dominic Ehrmann of FIDAM (Research Institute Diabetes Academy Mergentheim), paired continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) data with daily well-being assessments and concluded that the effort required to eliminate every glucose fluctuation may make everyday activities harder to enjoy.
The analysis drew on the PRO-MENTAL study, funded by the German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD). Participants rated their quality of life every day for 14 consecutive days using ecological momentary assessment based on the WHO-5 questionnaire, which asks about mood, calmness, energy, restful sleep, and interest in daily activities. The researchers also collected daily reports on sleep quality, perceived stress, mood, and energy, and matched these with CGM measures including time below range (<70 mg/dl), time above range (>180 mg/dl), time in the normal range (70–140 mg/dl), and glucose variability.
The cohort included 400 people with diabetes — 72% with type 1 and 28% with type 2, 55% female, mean age 47 years, and mean HbA1c of 7.6%. Statistical models adjusted for age, sex, and diabetes type, and accounted for previous-day quality of life to reduce the chance that results simply reflected a person’s baseline well-being.
Two patterns stood out. Spending more time in the normal glucose range on one day was significantly associated with better quality of life the next day. More unexpectedly, greater glucose variability on the previous day was also linked to higher next-day quality of life. Time spent above or below the safe range on the previous day was not significantly associated with next-day well-being. Better sleep and higher energy the day before were also linked to improved next-day well-being. Same-day glucose measurements were not associated with quality of life on that same day.
What the Findings Mean for Diabetes Management
The study does not suggest that poor glucose control is beneficial — time in the normal range remained positively associated with well-being. Instead, the researchers point to a possible burden of over-strict management: people who work especially hard to eliminate normal fluctuations may impose restrictions that make daily life less enjoyable or make certain activities feel unsafe to pursue. For the growing number of people using CGM devices and pursuing tight glucose targets, the findings raise the question of where the line falls between effective control and quality-of-life costs. The authors themselves frame the variability finding cautiously, saying the results may suggest that people experience lower quality of life when minimizing fluctuations too strictly.
How the Study Was Designed and Measured
The research combined two streams of daily data over two weeks: objective glucose patterns from CGM devices and subjective well-being reports collected in real time rather than recalled later. The team ran two sets of analyses — one testing whether one day’s glucose, sleep, stress, mood, and energy predicted the next day’s quality of life, and another testing same-day associations. Only the next-day models showed significant glucose effects. The work will be presented at the EASD meeting in Milan; findings released at scientific conferences are often preliminary and may not yet have undergone full peer review, and the study describes associations rather than causation.
“Days with higher time in the normal safe range for blood sugar were followed by days on which individuals with type 1 and type 2 diabetes reported better quality of life, underscoring the importance of optimal blood sugar control for well-being.”
— Professor Dominic Ehrmann and colleagues, FIDAM, Bad Mergentheim, Germany
Questions the Study Cannot Yet Answer
Several points remain unresolved. The findings show statistical associations, not cause and effect — it is unclear whether stricter glucose management actually reduces quality of life, or whether other factors explain the link between variability and well-being. The authors say only that the results may suggest a burden from overly strict fluctuation control. It is also unclear how the findings apply beyond this cohort, which had a mean age of 47 and mean HbA1c of 7.6%, and was predominantly people with type 1 diabetes. Whether the 14-day observation window captures longer-term effects is unknown, and it is not stated whether the conference presentation has undergone full peer review. No specific clinical guidance — such as how much variability is acceptable or when strict control becomes counterproductive — can be drawn from these results alone.
Research and Clinical Follow-Up to Watch
The findings are scheduled for presentation at the EASD Annual Meeting (Sept. 28 – Oct. 2, 2026), where fuller data, including effect sizes and statistical detail, are expected to be released. The study is part of the broader PRO-MENTAL study funded by the German Center for Diabetes Research, and further analyses of the relationships between glucose patterns, sleep, stress, and daily well-being are likely. Readers should watch for peer-reviewed publication of the results and for any response from diabetes care bodies on how quality-of-life burdens should be weighed against glucose targets. Anyone concerned about their own glucose management should discuss targets with their diabetes care team rather than changing treatment based on conference findings.
Key Questions
Does the study say people with diabetes should stop controlling their blood sugar?
No. The study found that more time in the normal glucose range was associated with better next-day quality of life. The researchers emphasize the importance of good blood sugar control; their finding concerns the possible burden of trying to eliminate every glucose fluctuation.
Why would more glucose variability be linked to better quality of life?
The authors suggest, as a possibility, that people who try too strictly to minimize fluctuations may impose restrictions on themselves — in food, activities, or daily routines — that reduce enjoyment and make some activities feel unsafe. The study shows an association and does not prove this explanation.
Who took part in the study?
400 adults with diabetes in Germany: 72% with type 1 and 28% with type 2 diabetes, 55% female, mean age 47 years, and mean HbA1c of 7.6%. Each participant provided CGM data and daily well-being ratings for 14 consecutive days.
Was same-day blood sugar linked to same-day well-being?
No. Same-day glucose measurements were not associated with quality of life on that day. The significant associations — for time in normal range, glucose variability, sleep, and energy — appeared only in next-day analyses.
Should I change how I manage my diabetes based on this study?
No treatment decisions should be made from a single conference presentation. The findings describe associations in one cohort and have not been shown to be causal. Anyone with questions about glucose targets or the burden of management should speak with their diabetes care team.
Source: rss
Fall Picks
fall essentials
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
