{"id":6804,"date":"2020-06-22T13:16:23","date_gmt":"2020-06-22T11:16:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/disturbmenot.co\/?p=6804"},"modified":"2020-06-22T13:16:23","modified_gmt":"2020-06-22T11:16:23","slug":"diabetes-and-sleep","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/disturbmenot.co\/diabetes-and-sleep\/","title":{"rendered":"Diabetes and Sleep: An Overview of a Complex Relationship"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There\u2019s a clear connection between <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">diabetes and sleep<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Chronic sleep problems, such as <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">insomnia<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and sleeplessness, are among the neglected but significant risk factors for developing <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">diabetes, types<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> 1 or 2. Many scientists have linked the increasing incidence of diabetes in recent years with the growing number of people who aren\u2019t getting good quality sleep. There\u2019s also an inverse connection: the <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">effects of diabetes<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> can include unpleasant sleep problems.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>The Relationship Between <\/b><b>Blood Sugar and Sleep Problems<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Many physiological changes occur in that body during sleep. These are related to various physical processes associated with blood sugar:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Cardiovascular system<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2013 It induces a decreased heart rate and lower blood pressure during sleep.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Appetite<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2013 The hormone leptin, which acts to suppress appetite, rises significantly during the night.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Glucose metabolism<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2013 Insulin sensitivity decreases in the evening, with glucose tolerance becoming minimal by midnight. During the first half of the night, glucose uptake becomes delayed. This is associated with <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">high blood sugar<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and a<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> sleepy<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> state.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Endocrine system<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2013 Melatonin and cortisol follow the <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">circadian rhythm<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. In addition, the growth hormone reaches its peak concentrations in the first hours of sleep, and prolactin increases both at night and during any daytime sleep. Furthermore, thyroid-stimulating hormone levels decline during sleep, which may be related to lower metabolic needs.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Thermoregulatory system<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2013 During sleep, the body\u2019s temperature drops, and energy consumption is reduced.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">sleep disorder and diabetes<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> can be related. Disturbances in the complex mechanisms regulating the circadian rhythm<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">can also provoke endocrine disturbances, such as changes in blood sugar levels, etc.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Since we already know how <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">healthy sleep<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> affects the functions in our body, we can guess what the consequences of <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">sleep disorders<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> will be on our metabolism. A high body mass index (BMI) is a risk factor for the onset of <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">sleep apnea and diabetes<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, conditions that cause other health complications. Significant weight gain can cause insulin resistance, which in turn can lead to diabetes mellitus and promote additional weight gain. What\u2019s more, <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/disturbmenot.co\/diabetes-statistics\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">diabetes rate<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> has been increasing<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in the last few decades.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The evidence shows that sleep deprivation can damage glucose metabolism and increase the risk of type 2 diabetes. In turn, people who have diabetes can also have some sleep problems.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This forms a vicious circle that becomes challenging to break in a busy daily routine\u2014but not impossible.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>How Do <\/b><b>Sleep and Diabetes<\/b><b> Influence Each Other?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the long run, short and defective sleep has been found to increase the risk of severe health problems, including obesity and type 2 diabetes. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC3763921\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Various studies<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> show that sleep duration can affect blood sugar levels, appetite-controlling hormones, and even the brain\u2019s perception of high-calorie foods. Scientists have come up with a number of explanations for the increased mutual risk of developing <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">type 2 diabetes and sleep<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> disturbances.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Poor sleep impairs the ability of fat cells to respond to insulin, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/edition.cnn.com\/2012\/10\/15\/health\/sleep-insulin-resistance\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">a new study<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> suggests. After four nights of <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">sleep deprivation<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, the results of blood tests show that participants\u2019 insulin sensitivity is about 16%, lower on average compared to periods of complete sleep. The combination of problems with <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">sleep and diabetes type 2<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> was once again emphasized in the following result. The insulin sensitivity of fat cells was reduced by 30%, reaching levels typically found in overweight or diabetic people.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In simple words, fat cells need sleep. And if they don\u2019t get enough of it, they become vulnerable. When sleep-deprived, fat cells need three times more insulin to activate the enzyme Akt, which plays a crucial role in regulating blood sugar. This explains a similar pathway related to <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">type 1 diabetes and sleep deprivation<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Regarding diabetes type 2, as insulin resistance increases, the accumulation of excess sugar and cholesterol in the blood increases the risk of diabetes and heart disease.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Researchers still don\u2019t know how fat cells recognize and record sleep deprivation, but there are ways <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">diabetes and sleepiness<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> can go together. According to one theory, the <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">lack of sleep causes<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> a stress response in the body related to insulin resistance\u2014which leads to the release of the stress hormones cortisol and norepinephrine.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, insulin resistance depends also on other factors such as metabolic syndrome, weight, pregnancy, infections, disease, <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">stress<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, medication, steroid use, etc.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Can Blood Sugar Levels Affect Sleep?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Despite adhering to good health recommendations, many young people with type 1 diabetes have difficulty keeping their blood sugar under control. The cause of this may be <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">sleep disorders<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> like <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">sleep apnea<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, according to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/spectrum.diabetesjournals.org\/content\/29\/1\/14\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">a new study<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Compared to the control group, it was found that people with diabetes spend a greater portion of their sleep in the lighter phase of sleep. This leads to higher glucose levels, behavioral problems, a decreased quality of life, depression, poor quality of sleep, drowsiness, and trouble retaining information. The results showed that <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">type 1 diabetes and sleep<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> disorders are mutually linked.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Furthermore, a short duration of sleep or chronic sleep deprivation in patients with type 1 diabetes diminishes their insulin sensitivity. In line with this, it only follows that dealing with sleep problems will improve the physical and mental health of diabetics, which the experts confirm.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There is also a phenomenon called <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">low blood sugar insomnia<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> or insomnia caused by nocturnal hypoglycemia. A drop in blood glucose level leads to the secretion of hormones that aim to regulate glucose levels. The overall result of this is a disruption in sleep and reduced sleep quality. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Eating two hours before sleep<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> can prevent this condition because it helps the body stabilize its blood glucose levels.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">is insomnia a symptom of diabetes<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">? It\u2019s been shown that most people with diabetes complain of <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">insomnia<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. On the one hand, diabetes symptoms can disrupt normal sleep at night. On the other hand, <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">lack of sleep<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> increases the risk of developing diabetes, or it can worsen the condition.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Furthermore, a direct link between insufficient sleep and the onset of a pre-diabetic condition known as impaired fasting glycemia was established. It\u2019s estimated that a night\u2019s sleep that usually lasts fewer than six hours increases the risk of developing a pre-diabetes condition by three times.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>How Many Hours Should a Diabetic Sleep?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC4394987\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Several studies<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> have been conducted to investigate the relationship between prolonged sleep (which is defined differently in different studies) and health concerns like <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/disturbmenot.co\/obesity-statistics\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">obesity,<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> cardiovascular problems, and even mortality. Sleeping too long can also be a sign of certain <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/disturbmenot.co\/mental-health-statistics\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">mental disorders<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. But why does <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">too much sleep<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> cause such trouble? There are several possible explanations.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When we\u2019re talking about <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">too much sleep and diabetes<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, know that oversleeping can raise blood sugar levels in your body. In addition, there\u2019s a claim that people who don\u2019t get enough sleep are at risk for obesity. The opposite is also true since a person who spends too much time in bed has less time to be active.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Moreover, getting more than 8\u20139 hours of sleep at night increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases by 34%\u2014in addition to risking obesity and glucose disturbances.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Regarding <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">diabetes and sleep problems<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, many people may find six hours of sleep to be satisfactory, but <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/books\/NBK19961\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">scientific studies<\/span><\/a> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">show that in terms of diabetes prevention, it really isn\u2019t sufficient. Prolonging sleep so that it lasts at least seven hours a night can be considered a sure way to decrease the risk of developing diabetes.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Can Diabetes Cause Sleep Problems?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The link between sleep problems and diabetes is explained by many factors, such as the negative impact of insomnia on the regulation of blood sugar levels. Although these processes are based on purely hormonal changes, prolonged sleep problems trigger them.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">On the one hand, there\u2019s a clear relationship between <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">insomnia and diabetes<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Insomnia slows insulin secretion and impairs the absorption of blood glucose from the body\u2019s cells. On the other hand, prolonged sleep deprivation leads to increased anxiety and mental stress. Under these conditions, secretion of the stress hormone cortisol is increased. High levels of cortisol inhibit insulin action. Thus, chronic insomnia not only decreases insulin secretion, it also suppresses its effect.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">All these show the particularly high risk of a persistent increase in blood sugar in the case of chronic <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">lack of sleep, and diabetes<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> can even develop. Besides, increased anxiety and high levels of cortisol in people who have chronic sleep problems further complicate sleep because they delay the synthesis of melatonin, the sleep hormone. Thus, regular sleeplessness and insomnia unleash a vicious cycle that further increases the risk of diabetes.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">sleep deprivation and diabetes<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> co-occurrence is also connected regarding insulin secretion. It was shown that the so-called <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">stage of deep sleep<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> has the most positive impact on insulin secretion. Since sleep goes through four or five 100-minute sleep cycles, sleeping less than six hours a day means that the risk of diabetes may increase due to insufficient deep sleep.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>What Is the <\/b><b>Sleep Apnea and Diabetes Connection<\/b><b>?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Do you snore? Do you feel exhausted during the day? Do you often wake up at night? If the answers are \u201cyes,\u201d you should probably seek medical advice. Irregular and intermittent breathing or even the cessation of breathing at night could be sleep apnea symptoms. How can <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/disturbmenot.co\/what-is-sleep-apnea\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">obstructive sleep apnea<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> make controlling type 2 diabetes even more difficult?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">diabetes and sleep apnea<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> go together this way, it\u2019s of paramount importance to address the complications caused by sleep apnea. According to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/aasm.org\/resources\/pdf\/sleep-apnea-economic-crisis.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">a 2016 study<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, approximately 80% of people with sleep apnea are undiagnosed and have no idea they are suffering from this severe illness. And this disease could even have fatal consequences.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you\u2019re trying to control your <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">diabetes, sleep problems<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> like sleep apnea can make managing endocrine disturbances even more difficult. This is because when you stop breathing while you sleep, the carbon dioxide in your blood increases. And this, in turn, leads to the following:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Insulin resistance, inefficient use of insulin in the body, and elevated blood sugar levels<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chronic high blood pressure<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">An increased incidence of heart problems and cardiovascular diseases<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A headache the next day<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The relationship between <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">diabetes and lack of sleep<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is also demonstrated in the way that an inadequate night\u2019s sleep sometimes results in a less active lifestyle and poor nutrition. This often leads to irritability, which can also affect our relationships with loved ones, friends, and colleagues. Drowsiness can also make us forget to take our medication\u2014and accordingly bring about additional complications for patients with diabetes.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Type 1 and <\/b><b>Type 2 Diabetes and Sleep Apnea<\/b><b> Management<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Although sleep apnea may be genetically inherited, it\u2019s most commonly found in overweight or obese people, smokers, and people over 40. Obstructive sleep apnea is a type of apnea in which airflow to the lungs is physically blocked during sleep. Snoring is a common symptom in obstructive sleep apnea, and it\u2019s a prevalent condition for people with type 2 diabetes. In this way, the combination of <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">sleep apnea and type 2 diabetes<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is common.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Furthermore, studies show that a deterioration in the clinical course of obstructive sleep apnea is linked to poor glucose control. See your doctor for a sleep test to find out if you suffer from sleep apnea or not because a combination of diabetes and the following symptoms can be problematic:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Daytime sleepiness or tiredness<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Depression<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Irritability<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sexual dysfunction<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Snoring<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you have diabetes, the most important thing is to find out if you suffer from sleep apnea at the same time. Specifically in the case of daytime <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">sleepiness<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, this <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">symptom of diabetes<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> could specifically be a sign of sleep apnea.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Once diagnosed, often via a sleep test called polysomnography, sleep apnea is treated with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) devices. The pressure generated by the apparatus supplies air through a nasal mask, which prevents the throat from closing during sleep, thus preventing sleep apnea.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Managing your sleep will help you to keep your diabetes under control. What\u2019s more, you\u2019ll feel much better during the day when you wake up well-rested.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Diabetes, Insomnia,<\/b><b> and <\/b><b>Pregnancy<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Gestational diabetes is a specific condition that occurs during pregnancy. It\u2019s characterized by high blood sugar and is most commonly found in the second half of pregnancy in women who have not had similar problems before becoming pregnant.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The risk of gestational diabetes increases over the course of pregnancy\u2014and this risk is increased based on the standard <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">causes of diabetes<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. These primarily include an inherited predisposition to diabetes and an unhealthy lifestyle. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC5792082\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A recent study<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> shows that the usual <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">lack of sleep symptoms<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> can contribute to the development of gestational diabetes.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Diabetes and sleep deprivation<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> are connected in the following way. According to scientists, pregnant women\u2014whose sleep is regularly shorter than six hours\u2014face a two-fold higher risk of gestational diabetes than women who sleep at least eight hours a day.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ensuring you get a good quality and quantity of sleep during pregnancy has a very positive effect on blood glucose levels. Prolonged sleep balances the body\u2019s hormonal levels, including that of insulin. On the other hand, when there are changes in one\u2019s <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">blood sugar, insomnia<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> can also be common.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s been established that the average person\u2019s sleep time is decreasing, and pregnant women are no exception. Thus, the risk of insulin resistance and its associated hyperglycemia increases. So far, the correlation between poor sleep, rising blood sugar, and the development of diabetes has been confirmed in different age groups, as well as in pregnant women.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Gestational <\/b><b>Diabetes and Sleep<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC6584491\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Studies<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> show different changes in sleep patterns across trimesters, each change being related to the risk of gestational diabetes. During the first three months of pregnancy, it\u2019s highly common to experience increased drowsiness and a slightly longer sleep duration. This effect is associated with elevated levels of the hormone progesterone in the first trimester.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">During the second trimester, organogenesis and rapid growth in fetal size lead to increased urination at night and more frequent nocturnal wake-ups. The overall effect on sleep is already negative. In the case of gestational diabetes, <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">diabetic sleeping problems<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> are even more complicated.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The most noticeable problems are sleep disturbances in the third trimester when it\u2019s difficult to fall asleep and maintain sleep. This is due to both hormonal and physical changes in the woman\u2019s body. All these changes weaken the ability of the female body to control blood sugar levels. Studies show that, as a result, they can decrease blood glucose tolerance and increase insulin resistance.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Since pregnant women need more sleep, how much sleep do they need? The data show at least eight hours of sleep as a leading goal during pregnancy, equally crucial for the health of both the mother and the fetus.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Diabetes and Sleep Aids<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Although there aren\u2019t any recommended sleep aids to specifically treat sleeping problems in people with diabetes, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/disturbmenot.co\/best-melatonin-supplement\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">melatonin<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> can be used<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Melatonin\u2014a hormone produced by the brain known for its role in helping the sleep process\u2014may also help reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes. While melatonin regulates the sleep-wake cycle, it also plays a role in other vital functions in the body, including glucose metabolism. According to experts, low levels of melatonin during sleep increase the risk of developing diabetes.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Furthermore, a study tracking the relationship between melatonin levels, <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">sleep, and type 2 diabetes<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> found that people with diabetes had reduced levels of melatonin overnight. Low levels of melatonin affect the ability of the pancreas to secrete insulin, as well as the body\u2019s sensitivity to insulin, leading to the development of type 2 diabetes. Other contributing and prerequisite factors for developing diabetes were <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">lack of sleep<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, poor quality of sleep, sleep apnea, irregular sleep-wake cycles, and shift work.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Other trials investigated <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">diabetes and sleeping tablets<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. A randomized, double-blind study from 2011 on the efficacy and safety of prolonged-release melatonin in insomnia patients with diabetes showed improved glycemic control alongside sleep quality compared to a placebo.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Antihistamines and sedative-hypnotic <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/disturbmenot.co\/prescription-sleeping-pills\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">sleep pills<\/span><\/a> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">can also be prescribed in people with diabetes for sleep problems. However, this should be the last resort\u2014and always start with the lowest dose. Observing good sleep hygiene and keeping a soothing environment will also help diabetes patients manage their sleep problems.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>FAQs<\/b><\/h2>\n<h3><b>Can high blood sugar wake you up \u0430t night?<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">High blood sugar at night can provoke you to urinate more frequently at night or to wake up with feelings of thirstiness. This will result in a disrupted sleep pattern and sleep deprivation. It can also be one of the first symptoms of diabetes. Other less common signs of high blood glucose are feelings of warmness, irritability, and unsettledness at night.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>What is the best thing for a diabetic to eat before bed?<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s a good idea for a person with diabetes to eat a bedtime snack. Consuming a high-fiber, low-fat snack before bed can help to maintain blood glucose for the entire night. Excellent snack ideas include whole-wheat crackers with cheese, chia pudding, hard-boiled eggs, an apple with peanut butter, or yogurt with berries. If you wonder what not to eat, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/disturbmenot.co\/what-not-to-eat-before-bed\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">here is a list,<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> prepared by us.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Do diabetics get tired easily?<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chronic maintenance of high blood sugar levels (<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">hyperglycemia<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) and other diabetes symptoms can lead to many other unpleasant complaints, such as fatigue. Low blood sugar (<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">hypoglycemia<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) can also cause fatigue, especially when blood sugar levels drop sharply or after treatment. It\u2019s characterized by the inability to feel better after resting. However, lifestyle changes can alleviate fatigue associated with diabetes.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Conclusion<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Diabetes is a condition that affects many organs, systems, and processes in the body, including sleep. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Diabetes and sleep<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> are also inversely linked because <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">sleep disorders<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> themselves can lead to an increased risk of developing diabetes. Once detected, the problem can be improved with one or more lifestyle changes, better diabetes management, and the treatment of any underlying <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">sleep disorders<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. However, it\u2019s essential to be consistent in following new habits every day.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Diabetes and sleep are inversely linked because sleep disorders themselves can lead to an increased risk of developing diabetes.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":6805,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1,21],"tags":[],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/disturbmenot.co\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6804"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/disturbmenot.co\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/disturbmenot.co\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disturbmenot.co\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disturbmenot.co\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6804"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/disturbmenot.co\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6804\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disturbmenot.co\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6805"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/disturbmenot.co\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6804"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disturbmenot.co\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6804"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disturbmenot.co\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6804"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}