Currently there is no cure for diabetes It is an illness that must be closely monitored and controlled In order for a diabetic to control the issues they face with loss of sleep they must first understand diabetes
What is diabetes
Our bodies naturally produce a hormone called insulin Insulin helps transfer glucose from the blood to the muscles fat and liver and other cells where it is used for energy Insulin resistance occurs when the body has trouble producing insulin or when the insulin fails to transfer glucose into these cells Diabetes is a condition in which the body is unable to produce insulin properly This causes excess levels of glucose in the blood If not properly managed this can have severe consequences for the heart kidneys and other organs If youre experiencing diabetes symptoms such as extreme hunger and thirst weight loss frequent urination blurry vision and fruity smelling breath visit diabetesstrongcom to learn more about it
How does having diabetes cause sleep issues
Diabetes affects every part of your body and it affects how you feel When you are regulating your blood glucose levels manually you are aware of changes When blood glucose levels are high you may feel nervous short of breath tired and have stomach pain among other symptoms When your blood glucose level is low you may feel shaky tearful moody anxious and have a fast heart rate These are physical symptoms of chemical change It is your brain telling you something is wrong It is your body trying to make you aware that something is wrong Of the most sleep disorders diabetes face perhaps the most dangerous one is Sleep Apnea
Sleep Apnea
When a person has sleep apnea their breathing starts and stops as they sleep In one 2009 study researchers found that 86 percent of sleep apnea participants also had diabetes More than half of them had it severely enough to need medical treatment
Most diabetics that develop sleep apnea have type 2 diabetics This is because a type 2 diabetic is often overweight Obesity can constrict air passages when a person reclines to sleep
People who have sleep apnea will often feel tired even when they have had a full nights rest They will snore loudly sometimes waking themselves often bothering others in the home who are trying to sleep They sometimes struggle to wake up struggling for a breath
Other ways diabetes will keep you awake
If you have excessive glucose sugar in your blood your body is going to try to get rid of it High blood sugar is bad for your internal organs and it is bad for your heart Your body is programmed to remove things that are damaging to you Here are some ways your body may keep you awake with your diabetes
High blood sugar levels can cause frequent urination Extra trips to the bathroom make for a long night
When your body has extra glucose it draws water from your tissues You will wake up throughout the night for water
The symptoms of low blood sugar such as shakiness dizziness and sweating This can wake you and frighten you This is where glucose tablets are good If you get up to eat you often eat too much then you get high blood sugar and that brings more problems
4 Ways To Stop Diabetes From Robbing Your Sleep
Understanding how diabetes takes our sleep is the easy part But taking it back is not so easy Just like everything else concerning diabetes it is about monitoring controlling and maintaining So lets take a look at how we can take back our sleep from the grasp of diabetes
➢ Get checked for sleep apnea
You may assume you have sleep apnea based on the way the people in your life complain about your snoring Or you may assume you do not have sleep apnea because you are still sleeping Or you can fall somewhere in the middle You think you have it but it is not that severe yet and you do not have it bad enough to worry about it Stop playing with your health Go to a doctor and find out if you have sleep apnea If you do take the steps to cure yourself Use the equipment prescribed and lose some weight In a lot of cases this is the biggest step you can take to reclaim your sleep
➢ Unplug
Begin one hour before you go to bed Unplug Turn off the computer the smartphone the tablet and the television Remove radio waves colors and lights from your eyes and let your brain shut down Read how on this level of relaxation helps balance the production of insulin
➢ Routine
Just like your meals and snacks must be measured and taken at specific times so must your rest times Naps should be limited to early afternoon and not last longer than 20 minutes You should go to bed at the same time every night and allow extra time for falling asleep
➢ No Nightcap
This is a tough one for people to understand Usually people think a drink just before bed will help you fall asleep It may initially However alcohol will drive up the glucose in your blood which may wake you up soon You could struggle to get back to sleep as it takes about 2 hours to get the alcohol out of your bloodstream Instead have your drink with dinner or at least an hour or two before bed and have it with food This will help metabolize the alcohol and give you a bit of the relaxing properties of the drink as well
If you are new to diabetes and sleep disorders
Before we begin please consider this Diabetes is a frustrating illness and it can become serious quickly When you combine diabetes with a sleep problem it is double trouble If you are new to controlling diabetes and sleeplessness please be advised Until you learn to understand the signs your body is sending you it is important to always be prepared
You must have your supplies next to your bed every night It is a good idea to keep an extra blood glucose kit next to your bed Just get a small kit with the meter lancets and free test strips and keep it there Your blood glucose testing meter is the most important tool you will ever own for the rest of your life It is your only method of immediate access to the information you need to control your blood The Ascensia Diabetic Care company is the makers of the Contour line There is more than 70 years of research behind this line That is so there is a meter that any diabetic no matter the severity of their illness or their income can afford to have a meter with them at all times
Keep a tube of glucose tablets in case you wake up and find your blood sugar has dropped while you slept If your level is high follow the instructions your doctor gave you Get up drink some water and begin to move around He will have told you how to handle medication If it is above what you expected or if it does not come down as it should contact your doctor or seek medical attention
Diabetes is a frustrating illness but it can be managed Sleeplessness is even more frustrating There is no doubt that the combination will take a lot of dedication With the help of your medical professionals and the effort you will invest in this you will overcome You do not have to let this rob you of your life You are in control as long as you assume the position
Consistent and quality sleep can go a long way in helping your body combat insulin resistance Be aware though that resting is only part of the solution
Exercise and healthy eating are also a big part in helping your body create and use the insulin it needs Type 1 diabetes and some aspects of Type 2 diabetes cannot be controlled in the same way
Sleep can help you have the energy you need to create a healthy lifestyle that can help you be resistant to insulin problems Here are five tips that can help you on you and your insulin stay healthy
Keep a sleep journal for a week Take care to note what time you go to sleep and what time you wake up including anytime during the night you wake up Write down what activities you do before sleeping Also keep track of any snoring or restless sleeping Keeping track of your sleeping patterns can help alert you to a possible sleep disorder that needs to be evaluated and treated by a certified sleep physician
Set a consistent sleep schedule Going to bed and waking up at a similar time every day can help your body know when it is time to relax and when it is time to get moving
Create a sleep friendly environment Keeping your room free from distractions clutter and electronics can help you feel more relaxed and help you drift off easier
Get the right mattress and pillow A comfortable bed will allow you to go to sleep without discomfort
Change your nightly routine The activities you choose before bed can make it harder to fall asleep Cut out busy work and electronic use right before bed Instead focusing on relaxing by reading a book or taking a bubble bath
If you are concerned that your sleep deprivation is affecting your insulin dont delay in seeking out help At the Alaska Sleep Clinic we can help diagnosis and treat sleep related issues so that you are the healthiest you
