Research Summary

Analyzed using Evidence Intelligence™

Virtual Reality Shows No Improvement in Sleep Quality for Diabetic Patients

Last updated July 12, 2026

Key finding

More patients improved after VR compared to usual care (V = 21, p = 0.03).

This pilot study evaluated the efficacy of virtual reality (VR) in improving sleep quality among patients with painful diabetic polyneuropathy. Results indicated no significant differences in sleep metrics between VR and usual care, except for a higher impression of change in patients using VR.

Quick read

Study at a glance

The essential study design details in one scan.

EvidenceScore™

Moderate

Study type

RCTs

Follow-up

Short-Term (≤3 mo)

Risk of bias

Some Concerns

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Plain-language summary

What this paper says

A plain-language read of the study’s main message and where it applies.

Study focus

Clinical relevance

Improving sleep quality in patients with painful diabetic polyneuropathy is crucial, as poor sleep can exacerbate pain and negatively impact overall health. This study suggests that while VR may not improve sleep metrics significantly, it could enhance patients' perceptions of their condition, indicating a potential area for further research and development in pain management strategies.

Keep in mind

Small sample size limits generalizability. Short duration of the study may not capture long-term effects. Lack of blinding could introduce bias in self-reported outcomes.

Published in

Journal Reference

Publication details and source links for this paper.

Lisa G, Ann DS, Julie J, et al. Efficacy of Virtual Reality in Improving Sleep Quality in Patients with Painful Diabetic Polyneuropathy: A Pilot Study. Journal of Clinical Medicine. 2024;13(23):7163. doi:10.3390/jcm13237163

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Main Effects

Sleep efficiency did not differ between usual care and VR (p = 0.81).

Number of awakenings did not differ between usual care and VR (p = 1).

More patients reported an impression of change after VR compared to usual care (V = 21, p = 0.03).

Evidence network

How this study fits

Understand where this research contributes within the broader evidence network.

Evidence Context

This study contributes evidence to Virtual Reality (VR) and Anxiety score, Average number of awakenings at 6 months, Depression score, and 6 more.

This study contributes evidence to

Intervention

Virtual Reality (VR)

Outcome

Anxiety score

Primary intervention

Virtual Reality (VR)

Primary outcomes

Anxiety score
Average number of awakenings at 6 months
Depression score

Primary intervention

Virtual Reality (VR)

Primary outcomes

Anxiety score Average number of awakenings at 6 months Depression score

Evidence relationships

Intervention and outcome relationships this study adds to the evidence network.

Evidence pairs

Relationships

Evidence topics

contributes_evidence

Editorial context

Why this study matters

See why this paper is useful beyond its individual results.

Evidence network role

This section describes how the study fits into the current evidence network. It does not determine whether an intervention works on its own.

Moderate contributionModerate confidenceNetwork score: 50

Why it is useful

Contributes to 9 evidence relationships
Includes primary outcome data
Linked to 0 direct semantic evidence topics

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Primary evidence

Evidence relationship

Virtual Reality Interventions and Quality of Life Outcomes

Related evidence

Evidence relationship

Virtual Reality Interventions and Mental Health

Save evidence

Evidence relationship

Virtual Reality Interventions and Sleep Outcomes

Save evidence

Core evidence

Study findings

The primary outcomes reported in this study.

Anxiety score

Virtual Reality (VR) → Anxiety score

Evidence Intelligence™

EvidenceScore™: Emerging; Score 59 · Based on 1 study
ImpactScore™: 50; Neutral
ConsistencyScore™: unclear; Not enough independent studies

Based on 1 study

Add to Evidence Tracker

Average number of awakenings at 6 months

Virtual Reality (VR) → Average number of awakenings at 6 months

Evidence Intelligence™

EvidenceScore™: Emerging; Score 59 · Based on 1 study
ImpactScore™: 50; Neutral
ConsistencyScore™: unclear; Not enough independent studies

Based on 1 study

Add to Evidence Tracker

Depression score

Virtual Reality (VR) → Depression score

Evidence Intelligence™

EvidenceScore™: Emerging; Score 59 · Based on 1 study
ImpactScore™: 50; Neutral
ConsistencyScore™: unclear; Not enough independent studies

Based on 1 study

Add to Evidence Tracker

Insomnia Severity

Virtual Reality (VR) → Insomnia Severity

Evidence Intelligence™

EvidenceScore™: Emerging; Score 59 · Based on 1 study
ImpactScore™: 50; Neutral
ConsistencyScore™: unclear; Not enough independent studies

Based on 1 study

Add to Evidence Tracker

Pain Catastrophizing Level

Virtual Reality (VR) → Pain Catastrophizing Level

Evidence Intelligence™

EvidenceScore™: Emerging; Score 59 · Based on 1 study
ImpactScore™: 50; Neutral
ConsistencyScore™: unclear; Not enough independent studies

Based on 1 study

Add to Evidence Tracker

Pain Intensity Score

Virtual Reality (VR) → Pain Intensity Score

Evidence Intelligence™

EvidenceScore™: Emerging; Score 59 · Based on 1 study
ImpactScore™: 50; Neutral
ConsistencyScore™: unclear; Not enough independent studies

Based on 1 study

Add to Evidence Tracker

Patients' Impression of Change in Condition

Virtual Reality (VR) → Patients' Impression of Change in Condition

Evidence Intelligence™

EvidenceScore™: Emerging; Score 59 · Based on 1 study
ImpactScore™: 100; Very Positive
ConsistencyScore™: unclear; Not enough independent studies

Based on 1 study

Add to Evidence Tracker

Sleep efficiency

Virtual Reality (VR) → Sleep efficiency

Evidence Intelligence™

EvidenceScore™: Emerging; Score 59 · Based on 1 study
ImpactScore™: 50; Neutral
ConsistencyScore™: unclear; Not enough independent studies

Based on 1 study

Add to Evidence Tracker

Sleep quality

Virtual Reality (VR) → Sleep quality

Evidence Intelligence™

EvidenceScore™: Moderate; Score 69 · Based on 2 studies
ImpactScore™: 75; Positive
ConsistencyScore™: 35; mixed

Based on 2 studies

Add to Evidence Tracker

Evidence Library

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Evidence Suggest

No significant differences in sleep metrics between VR and usual care.
3 patients reported improvement in impression of change after VR (p = 0.03).
All other psychological and pain-related outcomes showed no significant differences.

Who this applies to

Adults diagnosed with painful diabetic polyneuropathy.
Patients experiencing sleep disturbances related to their condition.

Keep in Mind

Results may not apply to all patients with diabetic neuropathy.
Further research is needed to explore long-term effects of VR.
The subjective nature of 'impression of change' may vary among individuals.

Between the Lines

Small sample size limits generalizability.
Short duration of the study may not capture long-term effects.
Lack of blinding could introduce bias in self-reported outcomes.

Evidence Library

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Connected Evidence

Explore related studies, evidence collections, and research questions.

Relationships organized using the Dediabetes Evidence Intelligence™ framework.

This study contributes to evidence on Virtual Reality Interventions and Quality of Life Outcomes, Virtual Reality Interventions and Mental Health.

Related evidence relationships

Explore in Evidence Explorer

This study contributes to the evidence on the following intervention-outcome relationships.

Devices & Technology

Detailed evidence

Virtual Reality Interventions → Quality of Life Outcomes

Devices & Technology

Evidence Intelligence™

EvidenceScore™: Moderate; Score 69 · Based on 2 studies
ImpactScore™: 75; Positive
ConsistencyScore™: 35; mixed

Based on 2 studies

View evidence

Devices & Technology

Detailed evidence

Virtual Reality Interventions → Mental Health

Devices & Technology

Evidence Intelligence™

EvidenceScore™: Emerging; Score 59 · Based on 1 study
ImpactScore™: 50; Neutral
ConsistencyScore™: unclear; Not enough independent studies

Based on 1 study

View evidence

Included in these evidence collections

Curated evidence collections and hubs this study is part of.

Quality of Life Outcomes Evidence Hub

All studies measuring Quality of Life Outcomes

2 studies

outcome_hub

Measures Quality of Life Outcomes as a key outcome.

Virtual Reality Interventions Evidence Hub

All studies on Virtual Reality Interventions

2 studies

intervention_hub

Contributes to Virtual Reality Interventions evidence base.

Mental Health Evidence Hub

All studies measuring Mental Health

1 studies

outcome_hub

Measures Mental Health as a key outcome.

Recent Diabetes Research

Latest published studies

recency_collection

Published within the last 2 years.

Explore more in Evidence Explorer

Jump to pre-filtered views in Evidence Explorer.

All studies on Virtual Reality (VR) and Sleep quality

Intervention: Virtual Reality (VR)Outcome: Sleep quality

2 results

All studies on Virtual Reality (VR) and Anxiety score

Intervention: Virtual Reality (VR)Outcome: Anxiety score

1 results

All studies on Virtual Reality (VR)

Intervention: Virtual Reality (VR)

2 results

All studies measuring Sleep quality

Outcome: Sleep quality

2 results

All studies measuring Anxiety score

Outcome: Anxiety score

1 results

Questions answered by this study

Generated from the study's connected evidence using Evidence Intelligence™.

Does Virtual Reality Interventions improve quality of life outcomes?

Moderate Evidence

Virtual Reality Interventions may improve Quality of Life Outcomes.

ConsistencyScore™: Results are mixed and should be interpreted cautiously.

Evidence caveat: The available evidence reports mixed findings.

Ranked evidence signals

1
Sleep quality
EvidenceScore™ Moderate | EvidenceScore™ 69.0 | moderate positive | ConsistencyScore™ Mixed | 1 study

Why this answer: This answer is cautious because the available studies report mixed findings.

Limitations

Only a small number of supporting studies are available.
Population details are unavailable.

View Full Evidence

Does Virtual Reality Interventions improve sleep outcomes?

Emerging Evidence

Current evidence does not show a clear benefit of Virtual Reality Interventions for Sleep Outcomes.

ConsistencyScore™: Consistency cannot yet be determined from the available evidence.

Ranked evidence signals

1
Sleep efficiency
EvidenceScore™ Emerging | EvidenceScore™ 59.0 | neutral | ConsistencyScore™ Unclear | 1 study

Why this answer: This answer is based on a single supporting study.

Limitations

Only one supporting study is available.
Consistency cannot yet be determined.
Population details are unavailable.

View Full Evidence

Does Virtual Reality Interventions improve mental health?

Emerging Evidence

Current evidence does not show a clear benefit of Virtual Reality Interventions for Mental Health.

ConsistencyScore™: Consistency cannot yet be determined from the available evidence.

Ranked evidence signals

1
Anxiety score
EvidenceScore™ Emerging | EvidenceScore™ 59.0 | neutral | ConsistencyScore™ Unclear | 1 study
2
Depression score
EvidenceScore™ Emerging | EvidenceScore™ 59.0 | neutral | ConsistencyScore™ Unclear | 1 study

Why this answer: This answer is based on a single supporting study.

Limitations

Only one supporting study is available.
Consistency cannot yet be determined.
Population details are unavailable.

View Full Evidence

Does Virtual Reality (VR) improve patients' impression of change in condition?

Emerging Evidence

Virtual Reality (VR) appears to improve Patients' Impression of Change in Condition.

ConsistencyScore™: Consistency cannot yet be determined from the available evidence.

Ranked evidence signals

1
Patients' Impression of Change in Condition
EvidenceScore™ Emerging | EvidenceScore™ 59.0 | strong positive | ConsistencyScore™ Unclear | 1 study

Why this answer: This answer is based on a single supporting study.

Limitations

Only one supporting study is available.
Consistency cannot yet be determined.
Population details are unavailable.

View Full Evidence

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Next steps

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All studies on Virtual Reality (VR) and Average number of awakenings at 6 months All studies on Virtual Reality (VR) and Sleep efficiency All studies on Virtual Reality (VR) and Sleep quality All studies on Virtual Reality (VR) and Anxiety score

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