Sleep and Diabetes
There are a lot of reasons why a good night’s sleep is important. For people with diabetes, there are even more.
A lack of quality sleep can affect:
- How your body responds to insulin1
- How hard it is to lose or maintain weight2
- Blood pressure3
- Your immune system4
- Mental health, including a greater association with depression and anxiety5
Tips for getting more quality sleep:
- Keep to a schedule. If possible, try to go to sleep and wake up around the same time every day
- Keep your bedroom dark and cool, around 65 degrees
- Put away the electronic devices. Ideally, remove TVs, phones, and computers from the bedroom
- Exercise during the day can help you sleep better at night
If you do these things too close to bedtime, they can get in the way of sleeping well:
- Consuming caffeine, alcohol, or nicotine
- Eating a large meal
- Taking a nap. Short naps can be beneficial, just not when taken close to bedtime
If you’re experiencing sleep issues on a continuous basis, you should have a conversation with your doctor.
References:
1. https://www.sleepfoundation.org/physical-health/sleep-and-blood-glucose. 2. https://www.sleepfoundation.org/physical-health/weight-loss-and-sleep. 3. https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/sleep-disorder. 4. https://www.sleppfoundatoin.org/physical-health-sleep-affect-immunity. 5. https://www.sleepfoundation.org/mental-health/depression-and-sleep
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