Sleeping patterns

I found that metformin disrupted my sleep pattern as it made me get up in the middle of the night to pee. My blood sugars are now low, so I no longer take metformin and sleep is much better.

I have suffered from sleep disturbance for many years. Sleeping pills might help in the short term to get your sleep cycle back into whack but will do nothing to help restorative sleep. There are a few hints and tips that may work for you but finding a blend may take time. Here are a few that have helped me in the past:
Yoga breathing excercises (to alleviate stress and promote relaxation)
Nothing techy in the bedroom, no phone or tv etc (no tech for at least an hour before bed time)
No caffeine or alcohol after teatime
A stricter routine that includes weekends
No sleep during the daytime
Doctors are now loathe to hand out sleeping pills these days but if your problems persist then see your GP.

What are your BG levels like?
I find I sleep much better when my BG levels are managed.
For me, anything above 8 or 9 wakes me and I struggle to get back to sleep.

I have chronic sleep problems, well before getting diabetes.
I did try zopiclone for a month, made no difference, plus as they are addictive, are only issued short term.
I very occasionally take a phenagan, some chemists won,t sell them unless on prescription.
Have over the years, tried over the counter herbal ones but did nothing for me.
Even my anti psycotic doesn,t help with sleep even though it has a sedative effect

Jimmy2 said:

Hi does anyone else suffer from bad sleeping patterns? Im realy struggling getting a full night's sleep and I'm finding myself waking after only a few hours then struggling to get back to sleep. This is making me tired & mardy through out the day.
Does anyone know if sleeping tablets would help.

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Hi Jimmy
I really sympathise I’ve had sleeping issues for years. In addition to t2 Diabetes I am disabled due to strokes when I was 23 and I have suffered with depression for almost 35 years . If I don’t sleep properly I’m mardy,miserable, irritable- almost verging upon nasty. I have tried lots of things from hypnosis and relaxation techniques, aromatherapy to reading. sleep diaries abd food diaries. I have found that a 9 pm ban on electronic devices.i try to read at least one chapter of my book.
What no works for me is not thinking about it ..I go to a different room - in my case the conservatory usually with a snuggy and my book. I read until the words are verging together then I close my eyes but don’t try to sleep I just blank out the world and I find I can fall asleep then. I’ve never done the medication route as i feel that I’m on enough meds.

Jimmy2 said:

Hi does anyone else suffer from bad sleeping patterns? Im realy struggling getting a full night's sleep and I'm finding myself waking after only a few hours then struggling to get back to sleep. This is making me tired & mardy through out the day.
Does anyone know if sleeping tablets would help.

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Are you on statins as when I was on them they affected my sleep.

I normally wake every two hours or so have done so for ages now, some times its even more frequent.

As I have never tried sleeping pills and never will, I can't say if they would work.

edit to add I am not opposed to sleeping pills it's just that most are contradicated for another condition

Not being able to get back to sleep is so BORING. and makes me so weary and CBA the following evening. and it happens far too often!! Usual life hacks include: reasonable fresh-air-and-exercise the previous day, no sleep in the evening, no light emitting screens an hour before bed and certainly none in the bedroom, bedroom to dark & cool, and if you are awake for more than half an hour GET UP go and have a warm drink and read for a bit before trying sleep again.
Oh, and manage your blood sugars well and check none of your drugs are stimulating you / altering your day/night cycle.
And of course avoid all stress.
(my sleeplessness is much worse just before I get my tax return in).

Prior to becoming Type 2 I went through some very stressful times which stopped me from getting off to sleep naturally. Eventually started listening to the radio while trying to get to sleep, this has worked wonders over the years. The radio volume must be turned down low so you can only just hear it, I have mine on the floor so it is not at ear level as well. Nothing of great interest to you and no radio quiz type programmes or plays. My radio now has a timer added which switches the radio off after 30 minutes. When I wake in the night, radio back on and I am off again within 5 minutes or less. Really works for me as it distracts my mind from going over all the day to day worries by concentrating on the radio. Hope it work for you.