Sleep Deprivation: A Hidden Enemy in Diabetes

Sleep Deprivation:  A Hidden Enemy in Diabetes

“Having long hours of sleep is no longer the only important indication of improved overall well-being, but how well you’ve slept during that period of time is of equal importance as well.” Kepha Nyanumba- Nutritionist Afya Pap.

Everyone needs sleep. It’s a complex and dynamic process that affects almost every type of tissue and system in the body. In an ideal world, everyone would get an abundant amount of totally restful sleep. After that kind of sleep, you will wake up feeling refreshed and recharged, ready to seize the day. Unfortunately, with long work hours, stresses of life and busy social schedules, it can be really difficult to get that great night’s sleep that we all crave.

When you haven’t had enough sleep (known as being sleep deprived), you may have fatigue and daytime sleepiness, changes in weight, and poor blood sugar control.  While sleep deprivation is often totally normal, it is also important to realize that sleep deprivation can be caused by unrecognized sleep disorders such as snoring, restless leg syndrome and sleep apnea, which is particularly common in type 2 diabetics.

Sleep apnea occurs when a person's breathing stops repeatedly during sleep. The condition and type 2 diabetes often coexist because of shared risk factors like obesity. The most common type of sleep apnea is obstructive sleep apnea, in which the airway becomes blocked leading to loud snoring. As well as this, the more severe the untreated sleep apnea, the poorer the level of blood glucose control.

The Relationship between Diabetes and Sleep Problems

Diabetes and sleep problems often go hand in hand. Sleep can affect your blood sugar levels and your blood glucose control can also affect your sleep, which results in trouble sleeping. For instance, high blood sugar levels can cause frequent urination, which markedly reduces your ability to get a good night’s sleep. By making some diet adjustments, you may realize that you can cure your sleep problems without using medications. Some of the adjustments include avoiding processed and sugary foods, increasing foods high in fiber content as part of your diet etc. Foods high in fiber content slow down the release of sugar into your blood, thereby helping you to avoid sugar spikes.

 

The Quality Vs Quantity of Sleep

Have you ever felt that you do not feel very refreshed even after more than 8 hours of sleep the night before? Having long hours of sleep is no longer the only important indication of improved overall well-being, but how well you’ve slept during that period of time is of equal importance as well. The bedroom environment can have a significant influence on sleep quality and quantity. Several variables combine to make up the sleep environment, including noise, and temperature. By being attuned to factors in your sleep environment that put you at ease, and eliminating those that may cause stress or distraction, you can set yourself up for the best possible sleep.