Diabetes and Insomnia

High or low glucose levels can put one to sleep easily. Lack of sleep can make diabetes worse, and symptoms of diabetes symptoms can make it hard to sleep. That makes diabetes and insomnia closely related when it comes to sleeping.

Sleeping, diabetes and insomnia

Sleeping is one of the most important and valuable activity any living creature needs. Sleep does not give a mere refreshing and pleasant feeling but is necessary for good health as well as it repairs and relaxes the body during the duration. Sleep is now known to be a contributing factor to learning.

Insomnia is a condition when one has sleep difficulties. It is however more on “how rested the person is and that is how to know one has insomnia. Some may have short sleep but still is alert and energetic. Insomnia does not occur in this case. Or one sleep longer but still feels drowsy and tired the entire day. That is insomnia.

Insomnia and diabetes

Fast-paced society is taking its toll on our sleep and insomnia becomes common. Statistics show that an average person in America sleeps for about 7–7 1/2 hours a night. The average sleep duration a century ago was 9 hours. As a whole, the American population is sleep deprived, said Francis Buda, M.D., cofounder of the Atlanta Center for Sleep Disorders.

It is known that lack of sleep lead to long-term health effects such as accidents due to fatigue and lack of concentration. However, recent studies shows that it can lead to insulin resistance, higher levels of blood stress hormones and increase in appetite that leads to overweight and obesity. These are factors that contribute to diabetes development.

In some cases, diabetes causes insomnia. Those who have trouble sleeping may already have diabetes, has a history of diabetes in the family or about to have diabetes.

Studies reveal that for those who lack sleep, their body’s sensitivity to insulin decreases by 25 percent. People who sleep less than 6 hours per night may develop abnormal blood sugar readings in 6 years time than those who sleep longer.

For diabetics, disturbances in sleep are common. Many diabetics are insomniac, have excessive daytime sleepiness and have unpleasant sensations in the legs that disturb sleep.

While diabetes can cause insomnia, how can insomnia cause diabetes? It is when the body’s insulin process diminishes in those who do not get enough sleep.

Good news

The good news is that sleep problems are nearly always treatable, and so are diabetes and insomnia. Usually, you do not need any medicines or surgery to get to sleep, just some simple changes in behavior and habit like eating healthy foods that put us to sleep and exercise.