A good night’s sleep can be prevention for a lot of different illnesses. Getting enough sleep can boost your immune system, regulate your metabolism, and keep your daily life balanced. Having your sleep interrupted or shortened because of the side effects of diabetes can cause multiple complications when it comes to your health.

Don’t believe me? Read on!

Sleep Recommendations

Experts recommend that teenagers should get between 8-10 hours of sleep, adults aged 18-25 and 26-64 should get between 7-9 hours of sleep, and older adults 65 years and older should get between 7-8 hours of sleep per night. These sleep averages account for body and brain development, as well as the natural tendencies of the human body. As we grow older, our bodies need less sleep.

Not getting enough sleep can be caused by health issues or our schedules. We often don’t leave ourselves with enough time to sleep the hours required by our bodies; we are distracted by work, technology, the people around us, and the anxieties that rush through our brain when our heads hit the pillow.

Diabetic Sleep Problems

Sleep problems can cause emotional and mental issues, and researchers often attribute sleep issues in diabetics to metabolic function. Diabetics can be diagnosed with insomnia, sleep apnea, difficulty falling or staying asleep, and bladder issues that cause multiple trips to the bathroom during the night.

The American Heart Association (AHA) conducted a study on the connection between fatigue and diabetes, along with other complications of diabetes. Like other sleep studies, they found that sleep problems are associated with obesity, not exercising, and smoking. Women, Caucasians, single people, and people with a low income are also at an increased risk of having sleep disorders.

Side Effects of Sleep Loss

The AHA study found that people are more likely to develop diabetes if they experience sleep loss, even if they aren’t obese. Results of the study found that fatigue can reduce your desire and motivation to exercise. Even if there is regular exercise, lack of sleep can cut back the effect that exercise has on your body.

One complication of diabetes is depression, which is a side effect of fatigue as well. This means that, if you are diabetic and not getting enough sleep, you will experience a higher risk of developing depression.

Recommendations

Doctors recommend getting the right amount of sleep for your age, exercising regularly, and keeping your blood glucose levels balanced so that you experience fewer of the complications commonly associated with diabetes.