Does diabetes have a negative effect on sleep? 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As alterations in one can affect the other, it is not uncommon for people with diabetes to have difficulty sleeping. Effectively managing the condition and practicing good sleeping habits can help people with diabetes get enough good quality sleep. Diabetes is a chronic condition that impairs the body’s ability to use glucose, resulting in fluctuations in blood sugar levels. Episodes of low and high blood sugar — known as hypoglycemic (hypo) and hyperglycemic events, respectively — can cause symptoms that may disturb sleep, such as thirst and an urge to urinate. Low quality sleep can also make it more difficult to control diabetes, as it can affect how people manage the condition. Additionally, diabetes is associated with some sleep disorders, which can make it more difficult to achieve a good night’s sleep. In this article, we discuss the relationship between diabetes and sleep and suggest tips to help manage both of these. Can diabetes influence sleep Share on PinterestIuliia Pilipeichenko/Getty ImagesDiabetes can have a negative effect on sleep, and people living with diabetes often report poor sleep. Evidence notes that diabetes and sleep disturbances have a dual-sided relationship. This refers to how blood glucose control can worsen the quality of sleep while sleep disturbances can affect blood sugar levels and elevate the risk of developing insulin resistance. How it may disturb sleep Having diabetes does not necessarily mean that a person will experience difficulty sleeping. However, certain symptoms are more likely to result in sleep disturbances. For example, high blood sugar levels can lead to frequent urination. As such, if a person experiences a hyperglycemic event at night, they may need to get up to use the bathroom. Additionally, when the body has extra glucose, it draws water from the bodily tissues, leading to dehydration. This may prompt a person to wake up and drink water. Hyperglycemia may also cause a person to feel warm, irritable, and unsettled at night. These symptoms may affect a person’s ability to fall and stay asleep. A person with diabetes may also experience the Somogyi effect or dawn phenomenon. Both terms refer to a sudden rise in blood sugars either due to a rebound effect of low blood sugars or hormonal changes in the body. Similarly, symptoms of low blood sugar levels can also lower sleep quality. It is not uncommon for people to experience a hypoglycemic event during their sleep, which can cause them to feel sweaty, shaky, and hungry and to experience nightmares. Although a person may not wake up or notice any hypo symptoms, low blood sugar can still interfere with sleep and affect quality of life, mood, and the ability to work. It may also make people less likely to notice and respond to the symptoms of a hypo during the day. Furthermore, waking up due to a blood sugar disturbance requires a person to correct their glucose levels with either insulin or carbohydrates. Making these adjustments may cause a person to feel alert and struggle to fall back asleep. Associated sleep disorders Some sleep disorders that may relate to both type 1 and type 2 diabetes include:Sleep apnea: There are different types of this condition, in which a person’s breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep. Sleep apnea is more common in those with type 2 diabetes, particularly those who carry excess body weight, which can restrict the air passages.Restless legs syndrome (RLS): A person with RLS experiences twitchiness and discomfort in their legs during sleep. It is likely more common in individuals with diabetes due to diabetic neuropathy, which refers to nerve damage.Insomnia: This is when a person has difficulty falling or staying asleep. As diabetes can disrupt or change sleeping patterns, insomnia can occur as a potential complication. Can sleep disturbances affect diabetes Sleep disorders can affect not only sleep quality and duration but also glucose metabolism and weight regulation. The possible complications of a lack of regular, sufficient sleep in someone with diabetes can include:an increase in insulin resistancean increased appetite and a stronger urge to eat nonnutritious foodsmaking it harder to maintain weightraising blood pressureimpairing the immune system and its ability to fight infectionsincreasing the risk of depression and anxiety Evidence also suggests that low quality sleep can increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Sleep tips The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) note that most adults require 7 or more hours of sleep a night. The organization adds that 1 in 3 adults do not get enough sleep and that conditions such as diabetes can contribute to this. The right sleeping habits, known as good sleep hygiene, can help people achieve a good night’s sleep. These habits may include: having a consistent bedtime and getting up at a similar time in the morning, even at weekendssleeping in a quiet, dark, and relaxing environment that is at a comfortable temperatureremoving electronic devices, such as phones, tablets, and TVs, from the bedroomavoiding large meals, caffeine, and alcohol close to bedtimebeing physically active during the day, as exercise can help a person fall asleep more easily at night Learn more about how to get a better night’s sleep. Diabetes management tips Although diabetes is not currently curable, people can manage the condition at home. Often, this involves following nutrition and exercise plans, as well as taking insulin or other diabetes medications. The American Diabetes Association notes in its 2017 guidelines that self-management and education are also crucial aspects of diabetes care. The CDC adds that participating in self-management education programs can help people learn skills to prevent or reduce complications and improve quality of life. Learn more about managing diabetes. Summary Living with diabetes can negatively affect sleep, and insufficient sleep can make it more difficult to manage diabetes. Certain symptoms of diabetes, such as hypos and hyperglycemic episodes, can disturb sleep. Additionally, people with diabetes may develop sleep disorders that can further disrupt sleep. As such, it is important for people living with diabetes to practice good sleep hygiene to maximize their likelihood of getting sufficient good quality sleep. Good habits include exercising during the day, having a nighttime routine, and creating a suitable environment for sleep. Last medically reviewed on April 14, 2022DiabetesSleep / Sleep Disorders / Insomnia 16 sourcescollapsedMedical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and draws only from peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We avoid using tertiary references. We link primary sources — including studies, scientific references, and statistics — within each article and also list them in the resources section at the bottom of our articles. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.Beck, J., et al. (2017). 2017 national standards for diabetes self-management education and support. https://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/diacare/early/2017/07/26/dci17-0025.full.pdfChattu, V. K., et al. (2019). The interlinked rising epidemic of insufficient sleep and diabetes mellitus. https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/7/1/37/htmDiabetes. 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Restless legs syndrome and diabetes. https://www.aastweb.org/blog/restless-legs-syndrome-and-diabetesPerfect, M. M. (2020). Sleep-related disorders in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus: Current insights. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7023878/Schipper, S. B. J., et al. (2021). Sleep disorders in people with type 2 diabetes and associated health outcomes: A review of the literature. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00125-021-05541-0Sleep and sleep disorders. (2020).https://www.cdc.gov/sleep/index.htmlFEEDBACK:Medically reviewed by Marina Basina, M.D. — By Louise Morales-Brown on April 14, 2022 Latest newsWhat sets 'SuperAgers' apart? Their unusually large neuronsOmega-3 may provide a brain boost for people in midlifeSeasonal affective disorder (SAD): How to beat it this fall and winterCDC: Monkeypox in the US 'unlikely to be eliminated in the near future'Why are more women prone to Alzheimer's? 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