Diabetes is a complex lifestyle disorder that affects every part of the body, leading to complications such as neuropathy and retinopathy, but one aspect that is often overlooked is the effect it has on a person’s sleep cycle. Sleep plays an important role in maintaining our physical and mental health and preventing the onset of chronic diseases, both directly and indirectly as a good quality. Sleep helps maintain glucose metabolism and reduce insulin sensitivity.
In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Dr Neha Verma, Head of Psychology and Wellness at Butterfly, revealed, “People with diabetes may experience frequent urination and extreme thirst that wakes them up at night, which affects their sleep. Conversely, lack of sleep can lead to cravings for unhealthy foods and late-night snacks, increasing the risk of weight gain and diabetes. Inadequate sleep can also decrease the leptin hormone and increase ghrelin, which makes a person hungrier than usual. Sleep habits also play an important role in how cells respond to insulin. Sleep disturbances such as sleep apnea may increase the risk of diabetes.”
She suggests, “Ensuring a restful night’s sleep is important for improving eating habits and avoiding metabolic conditions. Simple steps like eating a healthy diet, maintaining a sleep schedule, avoiding caffeine and vigorous exercise before bedtime, and creating a comfortable sleep environment can improve sleep quality. It is important to identify the root cause of sleep deprivation and manage it immediately. Innovative solutions such as digital therapeutics are available to manage and reverse blood sugar levels through a combination of lifestyle changes and medication adherence. However, prevention is always better than cure, and a good night’s sleep should be a priority for everyone.”
According to Dr Vishal Sehgal, President, Portia Medical, modern day habits like late night scrolling on devices can often lead to mindless eating or late night snacking and this can lead to insomnia, weight gain and obesity, high blood sugar levels. level. He said, “When a person does not sleep well, along with stress and other lifestyle problems, it increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Several studies have shown that frequent night awakenings, insufficient sleep, excessive sleep, and irregular sleep all promote glucose intolerance. Moreover, if a person has pre-diabetes or diabetes, less sleep worsens the condition.”
He said slowly, “Everyone Over time, diabetes can increase the risk of heart disease and high blood pressure, increasing the likelihood of atherosclerosis, a condition that clogs arteries and impedes blood flow to the heart. It is equally important for health care professionals to check for symptoms of insomnia or sleep-apnea in diabetic patients, as this can significantly affect treatment. Today, it is possible to ensure that you achieve optimal sleep with home sleep tests and remote assistance for any factors that may disrupt it. Home healthcare organizations are enabling people to get access to treatment for sleep disorders by ensuring that intervention is done at the right time. Your sleep habits can go a long way in determining your overall health and well-being.”
Bringing her expertise to the same, Runam Mehta, CEO, Healthcube said, “Lack of sleep is an under-recognized factor for diabetic patients, and it is surprising that the prevalence of insomnia in India is around 9.8%. Research has shown that lack of sleep can reduce insulin sensitivity, which leads to high blood sugar levels and increases insulin resistance. Additionally, lack of sleep can increase levels of the stress hormone cortisol, which can further disrupt glucose metabolism. Insomnia can also increase levels of ghrelin, the hunger hormone, salt retention and inflammatory markers. All of these together can contribute to making diabetes worse.”
She suggests, “Sleep plays an important role in diabetes control, so diabetics need to make good sleep habits a priority. Sleep goals such as getting 7-8 hours of sleep every night, practicing good sleep hygiene, keeping track of blood sugar levels, and eating a healthy diet can help prevent diabetes. helps in reducing the symptoms. Patients with diabetes are often diagnosed with insomnia or sleep apnea which makes their condition more difficult. It is very important for them to seek proper medical treatment for any underlying sleep disorders to avoid diabetes.”