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Can Sleeplessness Trigger Hyperglycaemia?
Question: Insulin dependent diabetic. Sleeping poorly and many overnight hyperglycemic readings since the end of August when my sister died. I'm not aware of grief over that. We had time to accept ovarian cancer was killing her and since I've been scanning all our childhood photos, I'm confident I'm not avoiding or repressing anything.
Any suggestions combatting the sleeplessness? I avoid eating after 6pm as even a small snack cabpn cause a glucose spike, even when I take a bolus shot. I assume the overnight hyperglycemia is triggered by the sleeplessness. I also have a slight presistant cold which might aggravate the situation.
I have used melatonin twice in the past for three weeks each time and that has helped, but it's not a solution.
I exercise daily, generally before lunch or late afternoon. Would a session of relatively gentle exercise sometime before bed help? I intend to develop a daily session for stretching and mobility exercises anyway.
Any suggestions combatting the sleeplessness? I avoid eating after 6pm as even a small snack cabpn cause a glucose spike, even when I take a bolus shot. I assume the overnight hyperglycemia is triggered by the sleeplessness. I also have a slight presistant cold which might aggravate the situation.
I have used melatonin twice in the past for three weeks each time and that has helped, but it's not a solution.
I exercise daily, generally before lunch or late afternoon. Would a session of relatively gentle exercise sometime before bed help? I intend to develop a daily session for stretching and mobility exercises anyway.
Brief Answer:
Sleep deprivation will cause nocturnal rise in glucose.
Detailed Answer:
Good day,
Noted your concern. Sad to hear about your sister.
You are right. Lack of sleep is a cause of high blood glucose. When you are awake at night, your counter regulatory hormones tend to be high ( cortisol ). This can cause glucose to rise. This will also cause weight gain.
Melatonin is good to reverse the sleep pattern which is lost due to change of time zone ( jet lag) and also to restore sleep pattern. You could try that again for 3 weeks.
You could also try a 10 day course of benzodiazepines like Tamezepam or Alprazolam. This helps to reduce anxiety and restore sleep. I wouldnt recommend this beyond 10 days.
Stretching and gentle exercise like walking ( not brisk walking) after dinner may also help to improve sleep quality. However, vigorous exercise and brisk walking is better to be avoided before sleep. Try soft soothing music in a dark room before you sleep ( you could search for XXXXXXX music or any relaxation music in Youtube). Avoid coffee or tea after 5 pm.
Hope this helps.
Regards
Binu
Sleep deprivation will cause nocturnal rise in glucose.
Detailed Answer:
Good day,
Noted your concern. Sad to hear about your sister.
You are right. Lack of sleep is a cause of high blood glucose. When you are awake at night, your counter regulatory hormones tend to be high ( cortisol ). This can cause glucose to rise. This will also cause weight gain.
Melatonin is good to reverse the sleep pattern which is lost due to change of time zone ( jet lag) and also to restore sleep pattern. You could try that again for 3 weeks.
You could also try a 10 day course of benzodiazepines like Tamezepam or Alprazolam. This helps to reduce anxiety and restore sleep. I wouldnt recommend this beyond 10 days.
Stretching and gentle exercise like walking ( not brisk walking) after dinner may also help to improve sleep quality. However, vigorous exercise and brisk walking is better to be avoided before sleep. Try soft soothing music in a dark room before you sleep ( you could search for XXXXXXX music or any relaxation music in Youtube). Avoid coffee or tea after 5 pm.
Hope this helps.
Regards
Binu
Note: For further follow-up, discuss your blood glucose reports with our diabetologist. Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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