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poorer sleep since diabetic

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Since having diabetes, more and more I notice my sleep being affected. The thing is that I take other medication that makes me sleepy, but I'm having trouble staying asleep for enough rest because of the need to drink or wee. Sometimes I don't realise that I'm particularly thirsty but I just get kind of hyper alert and can't relax, until finally I realise I need to drink. I think my sugar levels are around the 7 mark so I don't understand why this is happening. Anyone else with the same problem?
 
Hi Apple, I have good days and bad days. I quite often don't sleep well if I have a glass of wine, I get off allright but wake up around 1.30/2.00. I've been sleeping better lately, I put it down to walking in the evening after dinner. It helps the food settle and I feel tired, its also good for blood sugar levels!
 
I was insomniac for a long time,and have always associated this with the onset of diabetes.These days with good control of my blood sugars I am sleeping much better,but have a tendency to wake up suddenly around 2.00am-4.00am and then take 20 minutes or so to drift back into a light sleep.

My fasting blood sugars over the last year have been averaging 5.2-5.3 but on a hunch I tested my blood sugar for three consecutive nights when I woke up in the middle of the night.This gave three readings between 3.9 and 4.1.These days I calorie control myself to @2000 calories a day and quite often last eat at 5.00pm when my son comes home from school.My theory is that I am running out of blood sugar and the sudden wakening is my liver dumping to bring up my levels.Why this should wake me I have no idea and I presume I am falling back to sleep once my blood sugar levels are normal.I take no medication but presumably metformin could continue working through the night and produce similar low levels.Worth testing yourself perhaps?
 
Thanks for your replies. That's a good idea to test my blood sugar levels when I wake up youngmanfrank - thank you for suggesting it - maybe it is a liver dump. Last night, I also put a drop of lavender oil on my pillow and that really seemed to help keep me sleepy - although I did wake up very alert early in the morning. I'd so love to have a night of sweet solid sleep and awake refreshed.
 
I've had problems for years with poor quality sleep (wkaing up) and vivid nightmares and have never really experienced the awaking refreshed momen,t but I I cant say that Diabetes has caused this. However when I dropped off the wheel (twice) a couple of years ago (which frightened the life oiut of me) and felt generally consumed by fatigue, I saw my GP and subsequentlly, I been diagnosed with Obstructive Sleep Apneoa, and a mild sleep behavioral disorder. Despite trying several masks I cant get thropugh the night with the CPAP appparatus, although I understand that this works for the majority of OSA patients. On a bad day, I can sleep for 6 hours and nod off in the evening and then go to bed.

If your sleepiness probles are like mine then I suggest a referral to a sleep clinic.
 
I have the same problem. Acute exhaustion even though I may have had enough hours of sleep. My sleep is always disturbed sleep, though, waking up to drink because of thirst or to pee. Then I find myself tired out throughout the day and falling asleep at my table. And it's always kind of deep sleep when I fall asleep at the table.

The exhaustion is baffling cos I would fall asleep during the day, then in the evening, I would be extremely tired again. The feeling is like I really needed to lie down no matter what. I know exercise helps, but smtms, the tiredness is so bad I couldn't even get myself to do the exercise I so badly want to do. Know what I mean? Like yesterday, I forced myself to get into my swimsuit. I was utterly exhausted. And there I was standing in my room in my swimsuit and my head was still battling with my body as to whether to go down to the pool or not. One telling me that in my state of exhaustion, I'd probably drown, while the other telling me that I need to get down to the pool and swim.

Now I read here that you're all affected. Could it really be the diabetes then, cos I don't know what else can explain it except stress.
 
Hi Apple, :)

Not so long ago I started to drink decaff coffee hoping it would help with my sleeping.

It has made quite a difference,also my wife recons I am not so noisy (don,t know what she means ).

Its just a thought as every little contribution may help

Roy. :)
 
Poor sleep since diabetic

Hi Jung the foreman, I had the same problems with CPCP, Papworth Hosp. suggested using oxygen at 2ltrs/min with a cannular which is fine. Talk to your doctor! good luck Les.
 
Re: Poor sleep since diabetic

Les Smith said:
Hi Jung the foreman, I had the same problems with CPCP, Papworth Hosp. suggested using oxygen at 2ltrs/min with a cannular which is fine. Talk to your doctor! good luck Les.
Click to expand...

Hi Les, how did you managed to get that treatment prescribed?

I'm due another CPAP sleep study at East Grinstead as my consultant is now very concerned about my breathing problems. However, the last sleep behavioral study showed I only slept on my back for 6% of my sleeping time, so the problem of turning on my side and the mask dislodging is still a major issue for me.
 
Hello, I have had poor sleep before being diagnosed for many years so perhaps as a suggestion I keep a routine fro preparing to go to sleep with a medication known as Zolpidem which assists me to go to sleep.

Do not consume caffeine after 6pm in the evening.
Set a pattern of build up towards going to bed an hour before such as reading or something you like not too much thought involved.
If you are watching TV not to much action programs I find comedy the most relaxing as this can induce endorphines the feel good chemical produced in the body.
Now this may seem funny but if my mind is still racing or going over and over thoughts, think in your mind "Peace" or "Silence" and focus on your breathing making it more relaxed.

I hope this is of some help to you


Simon aka Cobra3164
 
Re: Poor sleep since diabetic

Jung the foreman said:
Les Smith said:
Hi Jung the foreman, I had the same problems with CPCP, Papworth Hosp. suggested using oxygen at 2ltrs/min with a cannular which is fine. Talk to your doctor! good luck Les.
Click to expand...

Hi Les, how did you managed to get that treatment prescribed?

I'm due another CPAP sleep study at East Grinstead as my consultant is now very concerned about my breathing problems. However, the last sleep behavioral study showed I only slept on my back for 6% of my sleeping time, so the problem of turning on my side and the mask dislodging is still a major issue for me.
Click to expand...
Hi Jung foreman, I toss and turn a lot in my sleep, but using a canula under the nose does not fall off, whereas when I used a mask I always lost it during turning over. Hope this may help, Lea Smith.
 
Hi Tulips, I know your post was a while back but I have only just seen it - I hope you see my reply!

Do you check your blood sugar when you feel really sleepy? I used to get those feelings when I was eating lots of carbohydrates with my lunch, I just couldn't keep my eyes open, which is directly related to diabetes. Maybe if you changed what you eat slightly you might feel a bit better.
 
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