Sleep disorders and diabetes- what you should know

How does Diabetes affect sleep?

Diabetes leads to unstable blood sugar levels. Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) and high levels of blood sugar (hyperglycemia) during the night can cause insomnia and next-day fatigue. If the level of blood sugar is high, the kidneys overcompensate through frequent urination. These frequent urination during the night leads to disruption of sleep. It also causes increased thirst, headaches, and tiredness, due to which the person faces difficulty falling asleep. Further, an imbalance of diabetic medication and long hours of staying hungry or not eating on time can dip the blood sugar levels at night, leading to nightmares, excessive sweating, and waking up irritated.

 

How does poor sleep affect blood sugar levels?

Poor sleep and diabetes are interlinked in a manner that one creates the other. Just like diabetes causes sleep disorders, poor sleep or lack of sleep can also lead to diabetes. Poor sleep habits or lack of sleep increase stress hormones such as cortisol, and decrease insulin sensitivity, leading to a surge in blood sugar levels and difficulty in glucose control.

Lack of sleep increases ghrelin levels, shoots up the hunger hormone, and decreases leptin in the body, which makes us feel full. To compensate for lower levels of energy levels, people deprived of sleep may be more likely to get relief in food products that contain high sugar, putting them at risk of obesity, which can impact diabetes.

 

Which Sleep Disorders are linked with diabetes?

Diabetic people generally face the following common sleep disorders:

1. Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS)

   This syndrome is a specific sleep disorder which causes an uncontrollable, intense need to move your legs. This need arises more commonly in the evening. RLS is caused by iron deficiency and is often accompanied by other sensations in the legs, such as pain, tingling, and pulling, leading to difficulty sleeping or staying asleep. Diabetic patients have a high chance of acquiring RL as uncontrolled levels of blood sugar can damage their nerves and cause diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

2. Sleep Apnea

   Sleep Apnea is a condition in which a diabetic person faces brief pauses in breathing at recurring intervals during sleep, leading to disruption of sleep at night. The period of paused breathing is known as apnea, caused by obstruction of the upper airway of the person. Sleep Apnea leads to low oxygen levels due to air blockage from getting to the lungs.

3. Peripheral Neuropathy

   Peripheral neuropathy, or diabetes related nerve damage in the feet and legs, causes tingling, burning, numbness, or pain in the feet and legs, often disturbing sleep and worsening at night.

 

Tips to Manage Sleep Issues in People With Diabetes

Proper management of blood sugar levels can enable people with diabetes to improve sleep hygiene and overall health. Here are some tips to improve sleep, manage blood sugar level and maintain well-being:

1. Maintain a consistent sleep schedule and sleep and wake up at the same time every day.
2. Control blood sugar level with medication to support better sleep.
3. Exercise regularly and follow a balanced diet.
4. Avoid intake of alcohol, nicotine or caffeine before bedtime. These can disrupt deep sleep.
5. Make a cool, quiet and dark sleep environment and keep electronic devices away at the time of sleep.
6. Practice yoga, meditation or deep breathing to manage stress before bedtime.
7. Consult a doctor if the problems persist; a targeted treatment, sleep study or targeted treatment can be suggested.

 

Conclusion

Good sleep is not a luxury—it is vital for diabetes control. If you are diabetic and are having sleep disorders, it may be due to blood sugar levels and symptom management. Identifying sleep disorders early and managing your sleep cycle and quality can help you stabilise the levels of your blood sugar and improve your daily well-being.

 

Key Takeaways

1. Sleep and diabetes are closely connected. Poor sleep can increase the risk of diabetes, and diabetes itself can trigger or worsen sleep disorders.
2. Lack of sleep decreases the body’s ability to use insulin effectively, causing high levels of blood sugar and increased risk of diabetes.
3. Sleep conditions such as sleep apnea and restless legs syndrome frequently affect diabetic people with diabetes and disrupt sleep.
4. Quality and timely sleep helps to control the blood sugar level, reducing overall cardiovascular risk and maintaining health wellbeing.

 

FAQs

1. How much sleep should I get?

   As per experts, adults should get 7-9 hours of sleep, babies should get 12-17 hours of sleep, and children should get 9-13 hours of sleep every night.¹

2. How does good sleep help control blood sugar levels?

   Good sleep helps in better insulin use and absorption of blood sugar, hormonal balance, control stress and inflammation and aids in glucose processing. Good sleep is an essential part of diabetes management.

3. How are sleep issues diagnosed in diabetic people with diabetes?

   Sleep issues are diagnosed in diabetic people by observing their sleep patterns, such as inability or difficulty in falling asleep, difficulty in breathing while asleep, snoring issues, or pain in the legs while sleeping. Sleep issues can also be diagnosed by a special sleep study known as a polysomnogram, which measures the person’s activity during sleep.

4. Is insomnia common in diabetic patients?

   Insomnia refers to a sleep disorder in which the person faces difficulty or an inability to fall asleep. There are several causes of insomnia, including stress, which is commonly observed in diabetic patients.

5. Can diabetes cause daytime sleepiness?

   People with diabetes can experience sleepiness during the day due to fluctuating blood sugar levels and poor sleep at night.

Source

1. https://www.diabetes.org.uk/guide-to-diabetes/life-with-diabetes/sleep-and-diabetes