The Role Of Sleep In Diabetes Care: Challenges And Solutions

Diabetes is a long-term illness that affects the body's ability to metabolize glucose, the primary fuel cells use for energy.

- DR. AMITABH SUR

Sleep is a vital function that is essential for the body and mind to relax, rest and recover. Diabetes and sleep have a complex and reciprocal relationship that can influence each other in positive and negative ways. It is crucial to understand how diabetes affects the quality and quantity of sleep and how sleep affects diabetes management and outcomes.

HOW DIABETES AFFECTS SLEEP People with diabetes may experience various sleep problems due to the symptoms and complications of the condition. Some of the common sleep issues that people face are:

● Insomnia Insomnia is the difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep. It can make a person feel tired or sleepy throughout the day. Anxiety, stress, or depression, which are common psychological challenges for people with diabetes, can also cause insomnia.

● Sleep Apnea Sleep Apnea is a common condition in which a person's breathing stops and restarts many times while they sleep, thus preventing the body from getting enough oxygen. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) affects about ~67% of people with type 2 diabetes. In people who have diabetes, OSA severity can lower insulin sensitivity.

● Restless Legs Syndrome Restless Legs Syndrome is an uncomfortable sensation in the legs accompanied by an urge to move them constantly, especially at night. The condition also affects people with peripheral neuropathy, nerve damage of the feet and legs.