How Patients With Diabetes Should Manage Their Sleep

Imagine sleep as the body’s nightly orchestra, conducting vital processes that repair tissues, build muscles, and optimize metabolic functions. During sleep, the body releases growth hormone, which helps regulate glucose metabolism. As such, having adequate sleep is important, as it helps improve insulin sensitivity, making it easier for the body to use insulin effectively. Not getting enough rest and sleep can have a negative impact on people with diabetes. One outcome of sleep deprivation is an increase in the hormones ghrelin and reduced leptin levels that regulate appetite and hunger. This imbalance caused by sleep deprivation may lead to higher calorie intake during the day. This, coupled with a poor sleep pattern, can lead to fatigue and reduced energy levels. This can discourage physical activity and exercise, which are essential for managing diabetes. It’s therefore important to keep a consistent sleep pattern and maintain a regular sleep schedule. While many people may find themselves sleeping more as they get older, this should not change their sleep patterns, as most adults usually need the same amount of sleep throughout their adult years. As such, if a person still feels tired and sleepy after nine hours of sleep, it might be a sign that they have other health conditions such as diabetes or heart disease. Going for a sleep study or sleep test is recommended to rule out any other possible sleep disorder.

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