Diabetes 101: Complications From Lack of Sleep

According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, 2020), if you consistently sleep for less than 7 hours per night, it will become more difficult to control your diabetes. Insufficient sleep can cause the following problems:

• increase insulin resistance, making it harder for your body to regulate blood sugar levels.

• increase your appetite and reduce the feeling of fullness after meals, leading to overeating. It can make you more inclined to choose unhealthy, high-carbohydrate, and sugary foods.

• It can hinder weight loss efforts by making it more challenging to shed excess pounds.

• It can raise blood pressure and significantly increase the risk of a heart attack.

• It can weaken your immune system, making it less effective at fighting off infections.

• It can also increase the likelihood of experiencing depression and anxiety. (CDC, 2020).

Here is a flow chart published by National Library of Medicine explaining how sleep quality and quantity affects the human body:

Fig. 1 The Impact of Sleep Deprivation on Obesity, Diabetes, and Cardiovascular Disease

 

Addressing sleep deprivation is crucial to help prevent complications. Chronic lack of sleep can lead to increased risk of obesity, cardiovascular diseases, impaired cognitive function, and weakened immune system, negatively impacting overall health. Here are 10 tips for a good night's sleep: 10 Tips for sleeping better

References: 

CDC (2020). Sleep for a Good Cause. [online] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/library/features/diabetes-sleep.html#:~:text=If%20you%20have%20diabetes%2C%20too

Nedeltcheva, A.V. and Scheer, F.A.J.L. (2014). ‘Metabolic effects of sleep disruption, links to obesity and diabetes’. Current Opinion in Endocrinology & Diabetes and Obesity, 21(4), pp.293–298.

Available at : https://doi.org/10.1097/med.0000000000000082