Diabetes is a chronic disease that causes blood sugar to become too high.
Diabetes self-management requires addressing aspects of daily life that impact blood sugar.
Sleep is one factor that can impact blood sugar and be affected by blood sugar.
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High blood sugar levels can cause increased thirst and increased urination.
When experienced at night, frequent trips to the bathroom can interrupt sleep.
For many people with diabetes, these symptoms can be worse at night.
These factors contribute to insulin resistance, which can cause blood sugars to rise.
For people with diabetes, less sleep can cause daytime drowsiness which can impact how you manage your diabetes.
Here are some tips to help you get started.
Choose one to tackle at a time so you don’t become overwhelmed.
Simple tweaks to your diabetes regimen may help you to get your numbers in a safe range before bed.
It is associated with full-body inflammation, insulin resistance and oxidative stress.
The worse it is, the more it will impact your blood sugar levels.
Having a bedtime routine that fits your life and one you might implement daily is best.
This may include:
Comfort is also important.
Wear loose-fitting clothing, and choose bedding and pillows that fit your preferences.
Make your room dark and keep the temperature and humidity controlled.
Aim to go to sleep and wake up around the same time each night and day.
These behaviors canincrease your sleep qualityand duration, which can improve your blood sugars.
Exercise Regularly
Regular exercise has manybenefits for people with diabetes.
Exercise reduces insulin resistance, meaning your body becomes more sensitive to insulin.
Insulin is a hormone that helps to move sugar from your blood to your cells.
Before starting any new regimen, be sure to get clearance from your health care provider.
For these reasons, it is often recommended to avoid caffeine consumption six to eight hours before bed.
If possible, venture to cut back or reduce it altogether and see if your sleep and alertness improve.
The Bottom Line
Sleep is one of the many things you do daily to keep yourself healthy.
Blood sugar management is also important for healthy sleep.
The two seem to go hand in hand.
Therefore, if you are having trouble managing your diabetes and sleeping, starting to implement somesimple strategiesmay help.
Work toward establishing a good sleep routine and moving more daily.
Lack of sleep can make you feel tired during the day.
Fatigue may influence you to eat more and move less, twofactors that can impact blood sugars.
You are more likely to take better care of your diabetes when you feel energized.
The recommended amount of sleep for adults per night is seven to nine hours.
Studies have shown that sleeping more than nine hours per night increases the risk of diabetes.
