How diabetes can affect sleep
Diabetes and pre-diabetes has been linked to problems sleeping well.
Effects of a lack of sleep or poor sleep quality include and are not limited to:
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Mental abilities: Poor attention, concentration and memory, impaired judgment and reaction time
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Emotional state: Irritability and other mood disturbances, and difficulty managing intense emotions
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Physical state: Fatigue, weakened immunity, high blood pressure and weight gain
High blood sugar (hyperglycaemia) and low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia) during the night can lead to insomnia and next-day fatigue.
When blood sugar levels are high, the kidneys overcompensate by causing you to urinate more. During the night, these frequent trips to the bathroom can disrupt sleep.
High blood sugar may also cause headaches, increased thirst, and tiredness that can interfere with falling asleep.
In contrast, going too many hours without eating or taking the wrong balance of diabetes medication can also lead to low blood sugar levels at night. This can cause nightmares, or wake you up at night drenched in sweat, or make you feel irritated or confused when you wake up.