There is a need to wake type one diabetics in order to prevent Dead in Bed Syndrome that is caused by alarm fatigue, resulting in a lack of an emergency glucagon injection that could lead to coma or death.
Type 1 diabetes is a serious condition in which the body doesn’t produce the required insulin to regulate blood sugar. Type 1 (T1) diabetics require insulin injections and strict diets to prevent symptoms and complications, which can be fatal. T1 diabetics require constant surveillance with continuous glucose monitoring systems that alert them using auditory alarms when their blood sugar levels are abnormal.
The issue is that oftentimes, users will develop alarm fatigue. Alarm fatigue occurs when someone hears the same sound repetitively, causing them to eventually grow used to it. When this happens, users begin to tune out their alarm, not becoming aware of when it goes off. With type 1 diabetics, this is especially dangerous because if they miss their alarm, it can lead to serious consequences.
Dead in bed syndrome occurs when type 1 diabetics sleep through their CGM alarms, which could cause them to go into a hypoglycemic state (blood sugar levels are ≥70 mg/dL).
CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/basics/what-is-type-1-diabetes.html
NIH: https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/health-statistics/diabetes-statistics
JDRF T1D Resources and Support: https://www.jdrf.org/t1d-resources/