Sleep is an important part of a healthy lifestyle. Want to know how much sleep do diabetics need? Keep reading below to find the information. Koala® Center For Sleep & TMJ Disorders has multiple locations near you. Please call us for more information, or simply book an appointment online.
Table of Contents:
Why is sleep so important for diabetics?So how much sleep do diabetics need?How can a diabetic person sleep better?
If you or a loved one is diabetic, then you may have heard about the importance of getting enough sleep. It really is important and can even be vital. If you’ve been struggling with sleep, you might want to speak with one of our professionals here at Koala® Center For Sleep & TMJ Disorders. There’s a lot we can do for you, but let’s start with the importance of sleep and how much sleep diabetics need.
Why is sleep so important for diabetics?
When a diabetic person gets plenty of sleep, they may have an easier time controlling their blood sugar. Diabetics know how important this really is. Enough sleep can also help a diabetic person feel alert, energetic, and less stressed during the day, which can contribute to a better state of mind for monitoring and managing their diabetes and symptoms. Also, getting regular sleep allows people to stick to a regular daily schedule, and for diabetic patients, a regular schedule may be especially necessary.
Also, diabetic people can have potential complications with their sleep. If a diabetic person has high or low blood sugar, this can interrupt sleep significantly. Or if a person with type 2 diabetes doesn’t sleep well, they may be more insulin-resistant and have trouble controlling blood sugar levels. You might be thinking this can be quite serious for a diabetic person, and it really can be.
In addition to all that, it’s common for people with type 2 diabetes to have sleep apnea too, and neuropathy can cause leg pain that can keep diabetic people awake. Sleep apnea and neuropathy are issues we’re especially capable of helping with here at our clinic.
A diabetic person can control all those things and get the sleep they need, especially with the assistance of a sleep clinic like ours.
So how much sleep do diabetics need?
Sleep quality is definitely important for diabetics, and so is sleep quantity. According to the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE), a person’s chance of having diabetes, heart disease, or stroke is reduced with 6 to 9 hours of sleep each night. For patients with diabetes, sleep quantity is important, but there isn’t an exact number to aim for that’s different from non-diabetics. Aim for at least 7 hours like everyone else does, and focus on sleep quality too.
How can a diabetic person sleep better?
Before bed, relax. At least an hour of relaxation before bed can help your body get into sleep mode. Regular sleep habits can too, like going to bed the same time each night, even on weekends. Relaxation techniques like meditation, as well as making your room a perfect place to rest can help.
It can help people a great deal to avoid eating a big meal close to bedtime. This can be especially important for diabetics, but a small bedtime snack may be beneficial. It’s also important to check your blood sugar level at night, an hour before bedtime, and it may be a good idea for you to check your levels again at around 3 am. You can ask us about these things here at Koala® Center For Sleep & TMJ Disorders. And for help with issues like sleep apnea, neuropathy, and others, ask us about the treatments we can provide like oral appliance therapy.
If you’d like to learn more about our treatments and the kind of sleep you should be getting as a diabetic, then reach out to our clinic today. Koala® Center For Sleep & TMJ Disorders has multiple locations in Bloomington IL, Peoria/Dunlap IL, Mishawaka IN, Kansas City MO, El Paso TX and Wausau WI, so please see our Locations page for the one nearest you, or call us. We hope to speak with you soon!
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For patients with diabetes, sleep quantity is important, but there isn't an exact number to aim for that's different from non-diabetics. Aim for at least 7 hours like everyone else does, and focus on sleep quality too. How can a diabetic person sleep better? Before bed, relax.
If you suffer from both TMJ and sleep apnea, you can try wearing a bite splint while you sleep, which will gently push your jaw forward allowing you to breathe normally and maintain a beneficial sleeping position. Bite splints can also prevent you from clenching or grinding your teeth at night as well.
Be physically active earlier in the day. Avoid beverages with caffeine in the afternoon and evening. Stop watching TV or using electronic devices at least 30 minutes before bedtime. Follow a comfortable routine before bed, like a warm bath or meditation, to reduce stress.
If you get less than 7 hours of sleep per night regularly, your diabetes will be harder to manage. Too little sleep can: Increase insulin resistance. Make you hungrier the next day and reduce how full you feel after eating.
People who have diabetes often have poor sleep habits, including difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep. Some people with diabetes get too much sleep, while others have problems getting enough sleep.
Some people will try to cobble together a solution using multiple pillows, but it's better to just get one good pillow that molds to the proper shape. It's easy to get your head propped up too high if you're using multiple pillows, and any multipillow arrangement can easily be disrupted during sleep.
Avoid putting any pressure on your face or jaw. Sorry, side and stomach sleepers. You might need a supportive pillow to lessen your TMJ pain, so forget sleeping without one. If you do, you could end up with worse TMJ pain and additional neck and back aches.
For patients with diabetes, sleep quantity is important, but there isn't an exact number to aim for that's different from non-diabetics. Aim for at least 7 hours like everyone else does, and focus on sleep quality too. How can a diabetic person sleep better? Before bed, relax.
Evidence on several online diabetes forums has shown that melatonin and antihistamines are the most common ways to help people with diabetes sleep or, in other words, treat insomnia.
The theory of the Somogyi effect states that if your blood sugar drops too low in the middle of the night while you're sleeping due to injected insulin, your body will release hormones in an attempt to “rescue” you from the low blood sugar. These hormones include: Adrenaline.
However, another study showed that poor quality and low quantity of nighttime sleep impair blood glucose control in T2DM, while napping can mitigate the deleterious effect of short nighttime sleep (<5 h) on glycemic control (75).
At least two hours before going to bed, try to avoid eating anything. Maintain a window of 10–12 hours between two substantial meals- If you work night shifts and are unable to keep your optimal dinner time between 7–9 PM, try keeping a window of 10–12 hours between your dinner and breakfast.
If you take insulin or other diabetes medications, you may sometimes need to snack before bedtime to treat or prevent low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) during the night.
Many people with diabetes will describe themselves as feeling tired, lethargic or fatigued at times. It could be a result of stress, hard work or a lack of a decent night's sleep but it could also be related to having too high or too low blood glucose levels.
Factors associated with disrupted sleep among diabetic patient include nocturia, nocturnal hypoglycemia, peripheral neuropathy, restless leg syndrome and sleep disordered breathing. These conditions, when associated with diabetes can cause fragmented sleep and poor quality of life.
Improper bite alignment: If a person has an overbite, underbite, or crossbite, their jaw may not rest in its proper, natural position. This may escalate TMJ pain and contribute to an airway obstruction, leading to sleep apnea. Conversely, sleep apnea can lead to TMJ problems.
A genioglossus advancement is a minimally-invasive procedure in which surgeons detach the chin bone and place it in a more forward position. This pulls your lower jaw forward and firms up your tongue, making it less likely to block your airway when you're asleep.
In mild to moderate cases of OSA and sleep-related bruxism, an effective treatment option is an oral appliance such as a night guard. A night guard lightens tension in your facial muscles and helps reposition your jaw and tongue to prevent airway blockage while also preventing your teeth from grinding together.
Introduction: My name is Kelle Weber, I am a magnificent, enchanting, fair, joyous, light, determined, joyous person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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