Sleep Well

[jakesfnm]

This is related to my previous post on stress, but I haven't seen this topic in this forum and I thought we all might want to keep an eye on the research. I've read results of some studies over the last couple of years that indicate that lack of "good" or "deep" sleep may contribute to our problems. I've been a very "light" sleeper most of my life. My GL levels SEEM to be worse when I go through particularly poor sleep periods. This quote is from the University of Chicago study on sleep and glucose - "If short sleep duration functions to increase insulin resistance and decrease glucose tolerance, then interventions that increase the amount and improve the quality of sleep could potentially serve as treatments and as primary preventative measures for diabetes," said Dr. Gangwisch.

Being encouraged to rest well is something I can live with! I figure it might not help, but can't hurt.

[Ronin]

Hi Jakesmfn!

My only thoughts on the issue of sleep is "it couldn't hurt." I'm not sure of the bio-chemical reasons for lack of deep sleep causing FBG levels to go up, but it may be that you sufficiently drain the glucose during the fitful sleep and thereby get a very strong Dawn Phenomenon spike when you get up.

While I test the FBG levels daily, I have, from time-to-time measured my post-breakfast readings. What I have found is an almost universal drop in my post-breakfast reading from my FBG levels, even when the FBG is in the 90's.

The principle thing to understand is the all of your body systems are interconnected. Sleep is part of the system and if you do not get fully restful sleep that is going to have an impact on the other systems.

You may have to take a close look at your sleep habits and find out why you don't seem to be rested in the AM. If you are an "Average American Male" it is likely that you don't actually spend more than about four to five hours per night in bed and that is not sufficient to get that deep sleep that the MD's are talking about.

Of course, that is easy for me as I am retired and I haven't been a night-owl for a very long time (since I finished college). Linda and I don't even try to do the late-night stuff that require staying up till midnight and beyond. On the rare occasions that we do, we are both miserable the next day.

[jakesfnm]

Actually I'm a 58 yr. old female who probably doesn't get "deep sleep." I've also taken your advice and stopped obsessing about testing. Seems to be working. Thank you.

[Ginette]

Studies do show that sleep duration and quality is associated with keeping BG levels in the good range...

Between 7 and 8 hours of sleep keep you in the good range, less than 6 and more than 9 hours are associated with higher fasting BG in the morning...

I am one who loves sleeping in late on weekend mornings! And it seems to be the case for me that if I sleep more than 9 hours, I will have those BG levels way up in the morning...142 this morning after a 10 hour night.... :(

In another study, people who were kept from going into a deep sleep but not awaken had significantly higher BG levels in the morning...

I have the references and url's for these studies if anyone is interested...

I read about this because I found my problems with glucose management started when I started having trouble sleeping well through the night. I've also read that this may be why women going through menopause (or pre-meno) have a harder time managing their diabetes.

Take care!!

[Larry H.]

That sleep issue could have also been a factor in my higher numbers I was seeing a while back. I usually get 8 or so hours but I have been busy with a project that keeps me up late and lets me get up earlier most days so it became more like 6 hours. My numbers were indeed higher. It could be something else as well though.
Like the previous writer the longer I stay in bed the higher the morning reading can be. It isn't a hard and fast rule though, sometimes I get a lower number with more time? Who knows how this all works.

[jakesfnm]

I saw that study on the lack of "deep sleep" and possible connection to diabetes. I can't imagine sleeping 9 hours so I'm only able to say that my numbers are lower during periods when I'm sleeping well. My weight/diet/exercise are good now so the sleep factor seems to effect me. I do wonder if it effects women more.

[notme]

I have also always been a light sleeper. I sleep 8 hours now, if I take melatonin, if not, I sleep lightly and only for an hour or so.

Interesting thought.

[Jan B]

Very interesting and makes sense too. I sleep well now for the first time in about 7 or 8 years, and my control is much better. I don't get high numbers for no apparent reason -- 95% of the time, I can figure out why I went high.

What a vicious cycle this disease can be. I had frozen shoulders longer than is normal (& I figure people think I exagerate the suffering painful time). The first shoulder was a little over 5 years; there was a bit of overlap -- before the dominant shoulder was all better, the non-dominant shoulder took the pain over for another 3 or more years. The only non-pain "almost" sleep was when I was on vicodin, which was a tiny percentage of the time. All the rest of the time, Tylenol PM knocked a tiny bit of the edge off. So did the frozen shoulders cause the poor control, or the poor control cause the frozen shoulders? I was extrememly active before the shoulders acted up.

Being a mother once, I can also relate to women (or primary caretakers) not going into deep sleep. I'm a very light sleeper still . . . always on alert for danger or someone/thing needing help (?), even though I sleep now . . . for 7-8 hours without any help!!

[Larry H.]

I go though lots of nights when I sleep very poorly, more than when I don't by far. The other day I got to bed latter than usual, around midnight. After a fitful night I finally got up about quarter to six. I took my reading and it was 84. If I had stayed in bed or taken it later It would have been closer to the low 100's I usually see. So I don't know if its sleeping less or when you take the reading that is the actual effects of the poor sleep. Sometimes if I sleep well and stay in bed often that will show a higher reading buy then nothing is ever for sure it seems.

[Tropo]

A few days ago my FBS was 100 after a 3 1/2 hour sleep. Yesterday it was 111 after a solid 9 hour sleep. There was probably no (or limited) liver dump after the short sleep ie. no dawn phenomenon.