This article is from the WebMD News Archive
Got Type 2 Diabetes? Get Better Sleep
Poor Sleep, Poor Blood Sugar Control May Go Together, Study Shows
Reviewed by
Louise Chang, MD
Sept. 18, 2006 -- If you've got type 2 diabetes, poor sleep may mean worse blood sugar control, a study shows.
The study included 161 blacks with type 2 diabetes. Those who reported getting too little sleep or poor-quality sleep tended to have worse blood sugar control than their well-rested peers.
The study appears in the Archives of Internal Medicine. The researchers included Kristen Knutson, PhD, of the University of Chicago's medicine department.
Knutson commented on the findings in a University of Chicago Medical Center News release.
"Although we can't be certain whether sleep loss makes diabetes worse or the diabetes interferes with sleep, it only makes sense for everyone, but especially patients with diabetes, to give themselves the opportunity to get enough sleep," Knutson says.
Sleep and Blood Sugar
Previous studies have shown that people without diabetes may be more likely to get diabetes or have problems controlling their blood sugar if they get insufficient or poor-quality sleep.
Knutson's team studied sleep and blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes, which is the most common type of diabetes.
Participants answered questions about their weeknight sleep habits.
They reported how much sleep they got and how much sleep they thought they needed. They also rated the quality of their sleep.
The researchers also checked participants' hemoglobin A1c levels, which show how well blood sugar has been controlled for the previous three months.
Poor Sleep Common
Average weeknight sleep reported was six hours; that's on the skimpy side.
"Only 6% of patients reported obtaining at least eight hours of sleep on weeknights and only 22% obtained at least seven hours," the researchers write.
Sleep quality generally wasn't good, either. About seven in 10 participants were classified as having poor-quality sleep.
Hemoglobin A1c levels were worse in participants who said they got too little sleep and other participants who reported poor-quality sleep.
Those results held after screening out 39 people who said pain frequently disturbed their sleep.
Depression Depression, which can skew sleep habits, didn't affect the results, based on depression questionnaires that the patients completed.
Sleep Debt, Sleep Quality
The researchers split patients into those with and without diabetes complications.
Among those without diabetes complications, hemoglobin A1c levels were tied to "sleep debt," the shortfall between how much they slept and how much sleep they thought they needed.
But in patients with diabetes complications, sleep quality was more strongly tied to hemoglobin A1c levels than reported sleep debt.
The bottom line: The amount of sleep and the quality of sleep both mattered, with some differences in patients with and without diabetes complications.
Future studies should test whether improving sleep length and quality improves blood sugar control in people with type 2 diabetes, write Knutson and colleagues.
They note that sleep loss has become increasingly common in modern society "and it cannot be excluded that this behavior has contributed to the current epidemic of type 2 diabetes."
© 2006 WebMD, Inc. All rights reserved.
Is This Normal?
Get the Facts Fast!Answer:
Your level is currently NormalHigh (hyperglycemia).Low (hypoglycemia). |
If the level is below 70 and you are experiencing symptoms such as shaking, sweating or difficulty thinking, you will need to raise the number immediately. A quick solution is to eat a few pieces of hard candy or 1 tablespoon of sugar or honey. Recheck your numbers again in 15 minutes to see if the number has gone up. If not, repeat the steps above or call your doctor.
People who experience hypoglycemia several times in a week should call their health care provider. It's important to monitor your levels each day so you can make sure your numbers are within the range. If you are pregnant always consult with your health care provider.
If the level is below 70 and you are experiencing symptoms such as shaking, sweating or difficulty thinking, you will need to raise the number immediately. A quick solution is to eat a few pieces of hard candy or 1 tablespoon of sugar or honey. Recheck your numbers again in 15 minutes to see if the number has gone up. If not, repeat the steps above or call your doctor.
People who experience hypoglycemia several times in a week should call their health care provider. It's important to monitor your levels each day so you can make sure your numbers are within the range. If you are pregnant always consult with your health care provider.
Your blood sugar level is slightly high. You should call your health care provider and ask if laboratory tests to check for diabetes are needed. If you are pregnant always consult with your health care provider.
Congratulations on taking steps to manage your health.
However, it's important to continue to track your numbers so that you can make lifestyle changes if needed. If you are pregnant always consult with your physician.
Your level is currently normal. However, if you are concerned about diabetes speak with your physician. There may be other risk factors that increase your risk for diabetes.
Your level is high if this reading was taken before eating. Aim for 70-130 before meals and less than 180 two hours after meals.
Even if your number is high, it's not too late for you to take control of your health and lower your blood sugar.
One of the first steps is to monitor your levels each day. If you are pregnant always consult with your physician.
Your blood sugar level may be high, depending on when you last ate. If you have not eaten for at least 8 hours, your blood sugar should be less than 100. If you've eaten within the last 2 hours, your blood sugar should be less than 140. You should call your health care provider and ask if you need laboratory tests to check for diabetes. If you are pregnant always consult with your health care provider.
Blood sugars consistently above 180 warrant prompt medical attention.
Even if your number is high, it's not too late for you to take control of your health and lower your blood sugar.
One of the first steps is to monitor your levels each day. If you are pregnant always consult with your physician.
Your blood sugar level is high. You should call your health care provider and ask if laboratory tests to check for diabetes are needed. If you are pregnant always consult with your health care provider.
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