Sleep changes the hormonal environment
CDC notes that inadequate sleep can affect insulin and cortisol. Less effective insulin action and higher stress-hormone signaling can make glucose regulation more difficult.
Poor sleep can also change behavior
- Fatigue can make planned activity less likely.
- Sleep loss can increase appetite and make highly palatable foods harder to resist.
- Late-night wakefulness can create more opportunities to snack.
- Stress about poor sleep can compound the problem.
Focus on repeatable sleep basics
Keep a reasonably consistent sleep/wake schedule, reduce late caffeine if it disrupts sleep, create a darker and quieter sleep environment, and discuss persistent insomnia, snoring, witnessed breathing pauses or excessive daytime sleepiness with a clinician.
Don't diagnose glucose problems from fatigue alone.
Daytime tiredness is common and nonspecific. If it persists, consider sleep quality and other medical causes instead of assuming blood sugar is the only explanation.
Sources & verification
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