Diabetes is a chronic disease attributed to elevated blood sugar levels caused either by insulin resistance or by inadequate insulin production to maintain blood sugar at normal levels. Depending on their blood sugar levels, Certain symptoms that diabetics witnesses are Frequent thirst or hunger, frequent urination and headaches that tend to interfere with one’s sleep.

How does Diabetes Affect Your Sleep?

Having diabetes does not disrupt sleep necessarily. However, symptoms that diabetics experience might interfere with their sleep, and it depends on how well they can manage their blood sugar levels.

High blood sugar levels cause the kidneys to overcompensate by causing a frequent urge to urinate. Diabetes can also trigger headaches, thirst, frequent trips to the bathroom and exhaustion, making it difficult to fall asleep and interfere with your sleeping schedule.

On the other hand, keeping yourself hungry for too long or an imbalance in diabetes medication can also cause the blood sugar levels to drop at night, leading to sweating, fatigue and irritation.

Which Sleep Disorders are Common in Diabetics?

Sleep disorders that are common in diabetics include:

• Sleep Apnea
• Restless Leg Syndrome
• Insomnia

Sleep Apnea

People with type 2 diabetes are prone to suffer from sleep apnea. In addition, obese people have a greater chance to develop sleep apnea due to constricted airways. In Sleep apnea, Breathing ceases for a brief period and then resumes after a break in the night in this state. Since the blockages prevent air from reaching the lungs, sleep apnea causes low oxygen levels in the blood. This causes sleep disruptions and causes the brain waves that resemble that while waking up.

Restless Leg Syndrome

Restless Leg Syndrome is marked by an irritating and painful sensation in the legs. This unpleasant feeling causes the person with diabetes to move their legs, constantly disrupting their sleep.

Restless Leg Syndrome can be caused by multiple other factors apart from diabetes, such as a lack of iron in the body, kidney issues or thyroid problems.

Diabetes patients are also at risk for a condition known as peripheral neuropathy. Peripheral neuropathy is caused by nerve damage and shows similar symptoms to Restless Leg Syndrome.

Insomnia

Insomnia is marked by difficulty or inability to fall asleep and can be attributed to various factors, including stress: Diabetes, hypertension, and other lifestyle disorders. In addition, high blood sugar levels contributing to frequent urination, dehydration and irritation can also interfere with your sleep leading to insomnia.

What is the treatment of Sleep Problems caused by Type 2 Diabetes?

Sleep Apnea

Losing weight, exercising regularly, and eating a balanced diet will help alleviate Sleep Apnea and improve sleep quality and diabetes.

Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is another option for the treatment of sleep apnea. Patients who use CPAP wear a mask that forces air into the nose, keeping the high air pressure to keep the upper airway tissues from collapsing.

Restless Leg Syndrome

Diabetes control and improving blood glucose levels can aid in the treatment of Restless Leg Syndrome symptoms. Apart from this, if you have low iron levels, your doctor can prescribe iron tablets. Restless legs syndrome can also be treated through medication by various drugs, including dopamine agonists, sleeping aids, anticonvulsants, and pain relievers.

Insomnia

Although over the-counter drugs and other medications are available, they should be used only if necessary and along with changes in sleeping habits. It is recommended to seek medical attention to help you figure out what’s causing the problem.

How can people with diabetes sleep better?

For people with type 2 diabetes, careful blood sugar control will help them sleep better. However, a good sleep routine is essential, and diabetics can take the following measures to improve their sleep time:

• Avoid or limit taking naps in the daytime
• Create a bedtime ritual with relaxing activities such as a bath, reading or sleep music
• Ensure a comfortable sleeping environment in your bedroom of optimum temperature, supportive mattresses and minimal light.
• Maintain a sleep schedule and stick to consistent times to regulate your body clock.
• Avoid screen time and other distractions while sleeping
• Avoid caffeine or alcohol post evening as they act as stimulants
• Seek medical advice to manage extreme symptoms.

Apart from these, focus on controlling your blood sugar levels by regular exercise, a high protein diet and maintaining a healthy weight.

How can a lack of sleep affect your diabetes?

Sleep deprivation has been linked to a change in hormone balance, influencing food intake and weight. People with diabetes are often caught in a vicious cycle to compensate for lack of sleep and maintaining blood sugar levels.

According to research, Sleep deprivation can cause insulin resistance, which further down the line leads to diabetes. Insulin’s function is to assist the body in using glucose for energy. Insulin resistance occurs when cells struggle to use the hormone effectively, resulting in elevated blood sugar levels. If not managed appropriately, high blood sugar levels can also damage the eyes, nerves, kidneys and heart.

Conclusion

Lack of proper nighttime sleep results in daytime lethargy, tiredness and irritability during the day. It is recommended to consult a diabetologist if you are facing trouble sleeping or witnessing any worrying symptoms that interfere with your sleep. By analyzing the reason behind disturbed sleep, your diabetologist can help you maintain your blood sugar levels at a more stable state.