How your sleep may be affected if you have Diabetes

#diabetes #sleep health

With Diabetes Awareness Week coming on June 12th, now is the perfect time to investigate how diabetes impacts our sleep. Over 9.3% of the world population is estimated to have the condition, so it is a growing issue. But just how much of an effect does diabetes have on your sleep?

Making sure you get the right amount of sleep is essential when you are dealing with diabetes. To make sure you get an efficient sleep improvement, you should make sure that you maintain blood glucose control. This will result in less sleep disturbances and keep you from feeling tired throughout the day. That is why it is important to understand the link between diabetes and sleep.

In this guide, we will explore this and recommend ways in which you can sleep better with the condition.

The different types of diabetes and how sleep might be affected

There are two main types of diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is a lifelong condition where the body's immune system attacks and destroys the cells that produce insulin. Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body doesn't produce enough insulin. Additionally, the cells in the body may not respond to insulin correctly.

A person with type 1 diabetes will commonly suffer from nocturnal hypoglycemia in aggressive cases. This is when blood sugar levels are low during the night. Blood sugar levels can fall below their target range if you do not consume enough food once you have taken your insulin before nighttime.

It can also occur if more than the prescribed amount of insulin is taken. Many adults have reported that non severe hypoglycemic events cause sleep disruptions.

Type 2 diabetes can also have a negative impact on your sleep. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine has recommended that anyone with type 2 diabetes be evaluated for sleep apnea. Their research shows that more than half of people with this form of diabetes are at higher risk of sleep apnea. This is usually due to blood sugar being too high or low during the night.

One thing that both types of diabetes have in common is that they can negatively impact our cardiac rhythm. In fact, evidence suggests that diabetes impacts the electrical system of the heart. This could lead to us not getting the required amount of sleep.

How to sleep with diabetes

Having diabetes can affect sleep negatively. However, it is possible to improve sleep if you have the condition. There are several ways to do this.

Consistency

A consistent sleep schedule helps regulate the body’s internal clock (circadian rhythm). This supports blood sugar regulation as a result. Maintaining a good sleep schedule also has other benefits, such as increased brain performance, mood and health.

Exercise

Morning exercise can help improve blood sugar control and promote better sleep. Being active also makes your body more sensitive to insulin, which can help you manage your diabetes as a whole.

Stimulants

Avoiding stimulants like coffee and alcohol improves your sleep quality. This greatly affects glucose regulation.

Also, if you take a stimulant drug, you are at greater risk of having a 'hypo'. This is due to burning more carbohydrates than usual. This could then negatively affect your sleep.

Stress

A build up of stress can impact blood sugar levels and disrupt sleep. Practising relaxation techniques such as deep breathing exercises or meditation can help reduce stress. A warm shower or bath, getting a massage or doing some light stretching can also help you relax before bedtime.

How sleep can help with diabetes

There are ways in which you can control the impact of diabetes through your sleep. It has been found that good sleep regulates levels of ghrelin and leptin. These are the hunger hormones that signal to your brain whether you’re hungry (ghrelin) or full (leptin). These need to be balanced so that you don’t crave sugary foods. If these are balanced, there is less chance of you going over the recommended glucose level.

An increased amount of sleep and less frequent awakenings can also result in a better glucose level and appetite regulation. If sleep and glucose level are balanced out correctly, they will help each other in keeping your diabetes under control.

Where to go if you think you have diabetes

If you suspect you may have diabetes, visit your GP as soon as possible. You may have heard on the news about a drug called Ozempic, which is taken as a once-weekly injection to manage blood glucose levels in people with type 2 diabetes, in the context of weight loss Please be aware to consult with your GP before you consume any drug to help with diabetes.

Also, everyone with diabetes aged 12 years old or over should be invited to have their eyes screened regularly.

It's important to see a doctor if you notice any problems with your eyesight. Do not wait for your next screening appointment.