Insomnia

[oldsle]

Hi all

I was diagnosed back in May as T2. I soon adopted a low carb lifestyle, determined to reverse this stupid thing. It worked beautifully. I started off with 10 units of Lantus. But then I started having trouble sleeping and the blood sugar started creeping up and up, especially the post-meal numbers. The sleep improved a bit and so did the numbers. I reduced my dosage again. But then full blown insomnia set in again, and my numbers are shooting up again. Once I get to sleep I'm good for the night, but I just can't get to sleep unless I'm totally exhausted. Are there any supplements you can recommend to help get to sleep? Right now I'm trying 300 mg Valerian and about 300 mg melatonin.

 

[Deleted Account]

I don't know about supplements but I experience difficulty sleeping when my BG is too high.
I feel exhausted but there is no way I can sleep until I bring my BG down.

Lack of sleep will lead to stress which will lead to higher BG which could maker it harder to get to sleep which will lead to stress which will lead to higher Bg which ...
I understand you do not want to depend on insulin but perhaps until you get your BG under control it may be the answer to getting your sleep sorted.

 

[oldsle]

I'm increasing my insulin as my bg goes up, but I'm finding it a bit tricky. I'm splitting my dose, and just last week I was getting fasting numbers in the low 3s and one morning it was 2.9. I reduced my nighttime dose to 4 units. So if I take too much and sleep well, I'm afraid of getting a hypo. But if I don't take enough and don't sleep well, my fasting bg is high and stays high during the day. And I was going to bed with around a 7-8, and still didn't sleep well. It's definitely a frustrating balancing act.

 

[Kristin251]

When are you taking lantus? With your evening meal or dinner?

 

[oldsle]

I'm splitting it between bedtime and late morning.

 

[Kristin251]

I'm splitting it between bedtime and late morning.

Probably not a good recommendation but when I can’t sleep I have either a small glass of wine or an ounce of chilled vodka. Out like a light.

I couldn’t split lantus. It was too wavey during the day and I’d hypo and hyper. I just take enough to get me through the night ( 2 units) and rely on humalog during the day but it doesn’t sound like you have Bolus Insulin for meals ?

 

[oldsle]

No, before the insomnia my post meal bg was fine, so there was no need for it. And I'm sure once I'm sleeping well for a bit, the numbers will be good again.

 

[Kentoldlady1]

Have there ever been other periods in your life when you have suffered with insomnia? Or has sleep always been ok?

 

[Deleted Account]

I'm increasing my insulin as my bg goes up, but I'm finding it a bit tricky. I'm splitting my dose, and just last week I was getting fasting numbers in the low 3s and one morning it was 2.9. I reduced my nighttime dose to 4 units. So if I take too much and sleep well, I'm afraid of getting a hypo. But if I don't take enough and don't sleep well, my fasting bg is high and stays high during the day. And I was going to bed with around a 7-8, and still didn't sleep well. It's definitely a frustrating balancing act.

How often are you adjusting your Lantus dose? It takes about a week to bed in because some hangs around for longer than 24 hours. So if you are tweaking it daily, you will not be giving your body a chance to settle into it.

 

[oldsle]

Have there ever been other periods in your life when you have suffered with insomnia? Or has sleep always been ok?

No, I've never had insomnia before.

 

[Kentoldlady1]

So the numbers got higher and then the insomnia started? Or the other way around?

 

[oldsle]

How often are you adjusting your Lantus dose? It takes about a week to bed in because some hangs around for longer than 24 hours. So if you are tweaking it daily, you will not be giving your body a chance to settle into it.

I find that the changes I make take effect pretty much right away. If I'm really low in the morning, I make an adjustment that day and I see the difference the next morning. I'm not on a high dose (relatively speaking), but a change of even 1 unit seems to make a difference.

 

[oldsle]

So the numbers got higher and then the insomnia started? Or the other way around?

The sleeping problems came first. It's crossed my mind that the metformin might be playing a role in this. I'm currently on 2000/day, so I'm going to reduce it by 500 to see if that makes a difference.

 

[Sue192]

Insomnia. Bane of my life. (It's 01.25...) I'm not on meds as trying to control with diet and exercise so I can't help with whether metformin is having an effect, @oldsle, but I didn't know stress-related insomnia raises blood glucose - I'm still very much at the bottom of the learning curve - thanks for the heads-up @helensaramay. I resort to watching youtube videos (not the greatest of sleep aids) but I have found Nytol does help (this many not be suitable for you) as long as you get enough sleep after taking it, otherwise it can have zombie effects. It may be worth a try, @oldsle, if it is ok for you to take it. I might try @Kristen's chilled vodka.... mmm..... I do hope you can get to the bottom of the problem - insomnia is a miserable thing to have.

Edit: to correct the spelling of @oldsle's name. (Darn specs...)

 

[Kristin251]

Insomnia. Bane of my life. (It's 01.25...) I'm not on meds as trying to control with diet and exercise so I can't help with whether metformin is having an effect, @oldsie, but I didn't know stress-related insomnia raises blood glucose - I'm still very much at the bottom of the learning curve - thanks for the heads-up @helensaramay. I resort to watching youtube videos (not the greatest of sleep aids) but I have found Nytol does help (this many not be suitable for you) as long as you get enough sleep after taking it, otherwise it can have zombie effects. It may be worth a try, @oldsie, if it is ok for you to take it. I might try @Kristen's chilled vodka.... mmm..... I do hope you can get to the bottom of the problem - insomnia is a miserable thing to have.

I find melatonin and valariian make me feel like I got hit by a Mac truck in the morning. Groggy, no energy etc. How much damage can an ounce of spirits do? I sleep and wake up well. Good luck. Hope it works for you like it does for me.

Nothing worse than laying there tossing and turning and getting frustrated. Add just a few nuts and bingo. I think it controls bg and insulin. No proof. Just works. Out go the lights

 

[Ian_Laye]

I'm also finding it hard to sleep, I'm off all meds and am diet controlled. My hba1c is 34 so my glucose levels are fine.

 

[Kentoldlady1]

I have had insomnia for years. Mostly because I did nights for 20 years and it wrecked my sleep pattern. I find I have about 3 nights sleep a week. I just get up now, watch tv or read. It is worse just to lay there getting cross. There are lots of things to try.

Many people stick to a strict routine. Others use music, white noise etc. There is lots of advice on google. I have found that a few things work for a while. As you have not had this before and it seems to be making your bgl rise, might I suggest a visit to the gp? There might be a reason unconnected with diabetes.

Insomnia is very hard to live with. It is a hidden problem that can make you feel.very unwell, but if anyone asks whats wrong all you can say is " I'm tired!".

I am currently trying mindfulness. Only just started, but I quite like it. If nothing else it gives me something to do at 2am.
I do sympathise. It can be very lonely at 3am.

 

[oldsle]

Insomnia. Bane of my life. (It's 01.25...) I'm not on meds as trying to control with diet and exercise so I can't help with whether metformin is having an effect, @oldsle, but I didn't know stress-related insomnia raises blood glucose - I'm still very much at the bottom of the learning curve - thanks for the heads-up @helensaramay. I resort to watching youtube videos (not the greatest of sleep aids) but I have found Nytol does help (this many not be suitable for you) as long as you get enough sleep after taking it, otherwise it can have zombie effects. It may be worth a try, @oldsle, if it is ok for you to take it. I might try @Kristen's chilled vodka.... mmm..... I do hope you can get to the bottom of the problem - insomnia is a miserable thing to have.

Edit: to correct the spelling of @oldsle's name. (Darn specs...)

Thanks @Sue192

I haven't tried Nytol, but I have tried Benedryl, which has the same active ingredient (diphenhydramine).

 

[oldsle]

Thanks everyone. I've tried pretty much everything. I took 10 mg melatonin last night and I was so sleepy, thought it would take no time at all. There was a few times it felt like I would drift off, but no luck. One of the frustrating things is, I can fall asleep at 6 or 7 a.m. and would be able to sleep all day if I could.

 

[oldsle]

I have had insomnia for years. Mostly because I did nights for 20 years and it wrecked my sleep pattern. I find I have about 3 nights sleep a week. I just get up now, watch tv or read. It is worse just to lay there getting cross. There are lots of things to try.

Many people stick to a strict routine. Others use music, white noise etc. There is lots of advice on google. I have found that a few things work for a while. As you have not had this before and it seems to be making your bgl rise, might I suggest a visit to the gp? There might be a reason unconnected with diabetes.

Insomnia is very hard to live with. It is a hidden problem that can make you feel.very unwell, but if anyone asks whats wrong all you can say is " I'm tired!".

I am currently trying mindfulness. Only just started, but I quite like it. If nothing else it gives me something to do at 2am.
I do sympathise. It can be very lonely at 3am.

It is awful, isn't it?

Thanks @Sue192

I haven't tried Nytol, but I have tried Benedryl, which has the same active ingredient (diphenhydramine).