Why do diabetics wake up in the middle of the night?

The brain is highly active at night, transforming short-term memory into long-term memory,[1] and carrying out repair and regeneration. [2] When blood sugar drops too low, the body sounds the alarm bells to protect the brain.


How can a diabetic sleep through the night?

How Can People With Diabetes Cope With Sleep Issues?
  1. Adhering to a diet plan that works for you and helps keep blood sugar controlled.
  2. Getting regular exercise.
  3. Keeping a regular sleep schedule.
  4. Avoiding stimulants like caffeine or nicotine before bed.
  5. Keeping the bedroom cool, dark, and quiet.


Can low blood sugar cause you to wake up in the middle of the night?

An individual may frequently wake up in the middle of the night as a result of nighttime hypoglycemia. In other instances, though, people may know if they experienced hypoglycemia during their sleep if they notice the following symptoms: Waking up with a headache.


Why do diabetic patients wake up at night?

Why Does Blood Sugar Go Up at Night? There are many factors that can cause your blood sugar to increase at night. For example: what food you ate during the day, how much and when you exercised, whether you ate snacks before bed, the timing of your insulin doses, and your stress level.

What should your blood sugar be at 3am?

People without diabetes should aim for a blood sugar range of 72–90 mg/dL or 4.0–5.0 mmol/L at bedtime for optimal health. Non-pregnant adults with diabetes often target a blood sugar range of 80–130 mg/dL or 4.4–7.2 mmol/L. However, blood glucose targets should be individualized for those with diabetes.


Is Diabetes Keeping You Up At Night? (Conditions A-Z)



Why do diabetics wake up at 3am?

These early morning wake-up calls often are simply one of many low blood sugar symptoms. Sleeping through the night represents a long period without food when blood sugar can drop too low. This is bad news for the brain, which depends on glucose for energy.

What is a good bedtime snack for a diabetic?

Try one the following healthful snacks before bed to help manage blood sugar levels and satisfy nighttime hunger:
  • A handful of nuts. ...
  • A hard-boiled egg. ...
  • Low-fat cheese and whole-wheat crackers. ...
  • Baby carrots, cherry tomatoes, or cucumber slices. ...
  • Celery sticks with hummus. ...
  • Air-popped popcorn. ...
  • Roasted chickpeas.


What is the life expectancy of someone with type 2 diabetes?

Life expectancy can be increased by 3 years or in some cases as much as 10 years. At age 50, life expectancy- the number of years a person is expected to live- is 6 years shorter for people with type 2 diabetes than for people without it.


What happens when diabetics don't sleep?

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.

How do you stop your blood sugar from waking up?

How can high blood sugar levels in the morning be controlled?
  1. Changing the timing or type of your diabetes medications.
  2. Eating a lighter breakfast.
  3. Increasing your morning dose of diabetes medication.
  4. If you take insulin, switching to an insulin pump and programming it to release additional insulin in the morning.


What is the 15-15 rule for diabetics?

For low blood sugar between 55-69 mg/dL, raise it by following the 15-15 rule: have 15 grams of carbs and check your blood sugar after 15 minutes. If it's still below your target range, have another serving. Repeat these steps until it's in your target range.


What should my blood sugar be when I wake up for type 2 diabetes?

What should your blood sugar be when you wake up? Whenever possible, aim to keep your glucose levels in range between 70 and 130 mg/dL in the morning before you eat breakfast, and between 70 and 180 mg/dL at other times.

What happens if blood sugar gets too low while sleeping?

Know the Signs of Low Overnight Blood Sugar

They include shakiness, sweating, confusion, erratic behavior, headache, and lightheadedness. With nighttime hypoglycemia, you may wake up with these symptoms or with a higher blood sugar reading that results from the body's response to an overnight low.

Can high a1c affect sleep?

Compared with patients with normal HbA1c levels, those with high HbA1c (>6.5%) had a greater risk of excessive daytime sleepiness according to the ESS results (OR: 2.08, 95% CI: 1.47–2.96, P < 0.001), poor sleep quality according to the PSQI results (OR: 1.54, 95% CI: 1.08–2.18, P = 0.017), and having a high-risk of ...


Is melatonin good for diabetics?

Evidence has shown that melatonin can contribute to the treatment of diabetes by inducing insulin secretion and improving β-cells [9]. In humans, a meta-analysis showed benefits from melatonin supplementation in fasting blood glucose.

What are 2 signs of high blood sugar?

Symptoms of hyperglycaemia
  • increased thirst and a dry mouth.
  • needing to pee frequently.
  • tiredness.
  • blurred vision.
  • unintentional weight loss.
  • recurrent infections, such as thrush, bladder infections (cystitis) and skin infections.


Is Gatorade Zero good for diabetics?

If you're going to drink sports drinks as a person with diabetes, a sugar-free or “zero” version might be the simplest option, but consuming these artificial sweeteners in excessive amounts is not recommended.


How can diabetics sleep better?

Keep a Regular Bedtime

Some of the tips for quality sleep with type 2 diabetes are the same as those for the general population, Faiman says. Near the top of the list for better sleep is having a regular routine for the time you go to bed and the time you wake up — on both weekdays and weekends, Pape says.

Should diabetics take naps?

The findings may suggest that people with type 2 diabetes who slept for short periods of time at night benefitted from napping in the day. Midday naps appeared to compensate for lost sleep at night, and reversed associated negative health effects, such as poorer blood sugar control.

What is the leading cause of death in diabetic patients?

Indeed, myocardial infarction is the leading cause of death among individuals with diabetes mellitus.


How do you know when your diabetes is getting worse?

These are some signs that your type 2 diabetes is getting worse. Other signs like a tingling sensation, numbness in your hand or feet, high blood pressure, increase in appetite, fatigue, blurred vision, trouble seeing at night, and more shouldn't be overlooked.

Is diabetes considered a disability?

Is Diabetes a Disability? Yes. People with diabetes of all types are protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act as people with disabilities. This includes access to school, public places, the workplace and some benefits such as Social Security and disability insurance.

What time should diabetics stop eating?

Try to go 10 to 12 hours each night without eating, Sheth advises. For instance, if you eat breakfast at 8:30 a.m. every morning, that means capping your nighttime meals and snacks between 8:30 and 10:30 p.m. each night.


What drink lowers blood sugar?

Drinking water regularly may rehydrate the blood, lower blood sugar levels, and reduce diabetes risk ( 20 , 21 ). Keep in mind that water and other zero-calorie drinks are best.

What 10 foods should diabetics avoid?

10 foods to avoid if you have diabetes
  • Processed meats. ...
  • Full-fat dairy products. ...
  • Packaged snacks and processed baked goods. ...
  • White carbohydrates. ...
  • Sweetened breakfast cereals. ...
  • Dried fruits. ...
  • French fries. ...
  • Higher-fat cuts of meat.