Will long-term poor sleep affect blood sugar?

Poor sleep has a great impact on our health. Long-term poor sleep will indeed affect blood sugar. For people with sleep disorders, it may also cause obesity and increased blood sugar levels, leading to the body's resistance to insulin.

1. A large number of studies have confirmed that poor sleep is seriously harmful to the health of diabetics.

First, sleep disorders shorten the effective sleep time, which inhibits insulin secretion and increases the secretion of hormones that antagonize insulin, leading to insulin resistance in the body.

Second, sleep disorders can affect the normal circadian rhythm of hormones. For example, increased concentrations of hormones that increase blood sugar at night (such as cortisol) can lead to increased insulin resistance in the morning, and prolonged secretion of growth hormone can also cause an increase in the body's blood sugar level.

Third, sleep disorders can change the body's secretion of appetite-regulating hormones, causing people to eat too much. At the same time, their activity levels decrease during the day due to sleepiness and fatigue. This can easily lead to obesity and aggravate insulin resistance.

2. How can patients with diabetes ensure sleep?

First of all, diabetics should limit their daytime sleep time. Except for the elderly who can take a short nap during the day, they should avoid sleeping during the day.

Secondly, we should develop good sleep hygiene habits, establish a regular life system, and maintain a normal sleep-wake rhythm. People with diabetes should not read, watch TV or work in bed.

In addition, avoid consuming stimulants such as coffee, alcohol, strong tea, or smoking heavily 6 hours before going to bed. Do not do strenuous exercise before going to bed and do not listen to stimulating music such as rock music. You can stretch to relax, or count repeatedly to relax your mind. When going to sleep, you can choose a comfortable posture such as lying on your right side, try to avoid sound and light stimulation, keep calm, eliminate distracting thoughts, and relax your mind.

3. Finally, if symptoms such as insomnia still occur after the above adjustments, seek medical attention promptly and receive symptomatic treatment after evaluation by a doctor. If symptoms such as snoring occur, thyroid function should be tested promptly and OSAHS caused or aggravated by hypothyroidism should be treated. If OSAHS is caused by hypertrophy of mucosal tissue, surgical correction can also be chosen. At the same time, pay attention to controlling your weight. Overweight and obese people can lose weight under the guidance of a doctor.