Sleep is so important to our health. Insufficient sleep affects not only our energy level, it affects our glucose level as well. The findings of a study published in Diabetes Care state that adults with prediabetes or untreated Type 2 diabetes who sleep less than 5 hours or more than 8 hours a night tend to have higher glucose levels. Among the participants, those who got between 7 and 8 hours of sleep showed A1C levels significantly lower than those who got less or more sleep.
Sleep loss and insulin
You may be asking yourself what does my staying up to watch a late-night movie and getting up early the next morning to go to work have to do with my A1C? Well, according to the National Sleep Foundation, if you regularly lose sleep, your pancreas releases less insulin after you eat – remember Type 2 diabetes results from your body not using insulin properly – putting you at risk for diabetes.
Sleep loss and weight gain
Sleep deprivation does not only affect your glucose levels directly, it also contributes to weight gain, which is a risk factor for diabetes. If you aren’t getting enough sleep, you are likely to get out of bed and head for the fridge. And chances are, you are not going to reach for a leaf of lettuce. Those midnight monsters – cookies, milk, even ice-cream – will be calling your name. The result is disaster for your waistline and your health. Also, sleep deprivation can leave you feeling tired and in no mood to exercise. It’s a vicious cycle because exercise is a boon for a good night’s sleep.
You can make it up
You can make up for lost sleep by getting a few full nights’ sleep maybe over the weekend. This will help you feel better and bring your glucose levels down. Diabetes is a debilitating disease. It destroys your organs, your eyesight, it can lead to a stroke or heart disease, But fortunately, it is controllable. You owe it to yourself to protect your body from this crippling disease. In my next post, I will give you some pointers on how you can improve your sleep, avoid diabetes and enjoy a better quality of life.
Are you struggling to control diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure? Are you getting less than 6 hours sleep a night? If you answer yes to any of these questions, I can help you. Fill in the form below and let’s talk.
