Effects of Diabetes on Sleep:
Diabetics patient often suffer from insomnia and sleep disorders due to one of the following reasons:
- High blood glucose levels and low blood glucose levels at night can lead to insomnia and therefore fatigue throughout the day.
- When blood glucose levels rise, the kidneys often cause urination during the night, as frequent bathroom going disturbs sleep.
- High blood glucose levels may also lead to headaches and increased thirst and fatigue that can interfere with sleep.
- Not eating for long hours or taking diabetes medications incorrectly can lead to low blood glucose levels at night, as the patient may experience sweating during sleep or anger and stress when waking up.
Impact of Sleep Disorders or Insomnia on Diabetes:
Multiple studies have shown that frequent night waking, inadequate sleep, excessive sleep, and irregular sleep are all factors that promote glucose intolerance, in addition to if a person has pre-diabetes or diabetes, a lack of sleep will exacerbate the condition and lead to diabetes.
Common Sleep Disorders in Diabetic Patients:
People with type 2 diabetes have a higher chance of developing sleep disorders, the most common of which are:
- Restless Legs Syndrome: which is characterized by tingling or other irritating sensations in the legs that can interfere with sleep.
- Obstructive sleep apnea: It is a sleep disorder in which a person temporarily stops breathing at frequent intervals throughout the night, in most cases the sufferer is not aware of this happening, although the partner in the room may notice snoring and gasping.
When to see a doctor:
When you feel tired, have difficulty sleeping, or any other troubling symptoms; analyze the cause and keep your blood glucose levels stable.
Dealing with Sleep Problems:
It is by adopting good healthy sleep habits, such as:
- Adhering to an appropriate diet helps control blood glucose levels.
- Doing exercise regularly.
- Keeping a regular sleep schedule.
- Avoid stimulants (e.g., caffeine or nicotine) before bed.
- Keeping the bedroom cool, dark, and quiet.