Better Sleep with Diabetes
How sleep and blood sugar affect each other, from night lows to sleep apnea, and how to sleep a little better.
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About this course
How sleep and blood sugar affect each other, from night lows to sleep apnea, and how to sleep a little better.
Poor sleep can push blood sugar up, and blood sugar swings can wake you at night. This course covers night lows, morning highs, sleep apnea, tiredness and sleeping after a night shift.
You will finish with a simple bedtime routine you can try tonight and signs that mean it is time to talk to your doctor.
What you will learn
Medically reviewed by
Dr. Rezwana Parvin Rumpa is an obstetrics and gynaecology specialist with clinical focus on gestational diabetes, PCOS, and fertility. She holds the MRCOG (Final Part) from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in London, the MRCPI (Final Part) from the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, and an MBBS from Shaheed Monsur Ali Medical College under Dhaka University. Dr. Rumpa serves as a Senior Medical Officer in the Obs and Gynae department at BRB Hospitals Ltd, where she has spent three years managing prenatal care, emergency obstetric cases, and women's-health surgery. On Diabic, she medically reviews content for women living with diabetes, with particular attention to pregnancy, PCOS, and reproductive-health intersections.
For learning only. Talk to your doctor before changing medicine or habits.
Chapter 1: Signs Your Sleep Needs Attention
- Diabetes CareDiabetes Care journal home page (opens in a new tab)
- National Library of MedicinePubMed article 26944909 (opens in a new tab)
- CDCAbout Sleep (opens in a new tab)
- National Sleep FoundationSleep Advice and Mattress Reviews (opens in a new tab)
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood InstituteWhat Is Sleep Apnea? (opens in a new tab)
- American Academy of Sleep MedicineAmerican Academy of Sleep Medicine, AASM, Medical Society (opens in a new tab)
- Diabetes CarePubMed article 11375373 (opens in a new tab)
Chapter 2: How Sleep Affects Blood Sugar
- Diabetes CarePubMed article 26106234 (opens in a new tab)
- Cleveland ClinicDawn phenomenon (opens in a new tab)
- Cleveland ClinicThe Somogyi Effect (opens in a new tab)
- American Academy of Sleep MedicinePractice Guidelines (opens in a new tab)
- Sleep FoundationBest Temperature for Sleep (opens in a new tab)
Chapter 3: Night Lows and Morning Highs
- NIDDKLow Blood Glucose (Hypoglycemia) (opens in a new tab)
- Mayo ClinicThe dawn phenomenon: What can you do? (opens in a new tab)
- Joslin Diabetes CenterJoslin Diabetes Center: Education (opens in a new tab)
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and AlcoholismAlcohol's Effects on the Body, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) (opens in a new tab)
- NIDDKHealthy Living with Diabetes (opens in a new tab)
- CDCAlcohol Use (opens in a new tab)
- American Diabetes AssociationLow Blood Glucose (Hypoglycemia) (opens in a new tab)
Chapter 4: Sleep Apnea
Chapter 5: Tiredness and Fatigue
- NIDDKSymptoms & Causes of Diabetes (opens in a new tab)
- Endocrine SocietyEndocrine Society home page (opens in a new tab)
- American Diabetes AssociationAmerican Diabetes Association: Mental health (opens in a new tab)
- National Library of MedicinePubMed article 27909305 (opens in a new tab)
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood InstituteHow Sleep Works (opens in a new tab)
- Sleep FoundationNapping: Benefits and Tips (opens in a new tab)
- Sleep FoundationCaffeine and Sleep (opens in a new tab)
- CDCAbout Water and Healthier Drinks (opens in a new tab)
- American Diabetes AssociationAmerican Diabetes Association: Fitness (opens in a new tab)
- National Institute of Mental HealthNational Institute of Mental Health: Depression (opens in a new tab)
Chapter 6: Sleeping After Night Shifts
Chapter 7: A Better Sleep Routine
- Frontiers in Human NeurosciencePubMed article 30245619 (opens in a new tab)
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative HealthRelaxation Techniques for Health (opens in a new tab)
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative HealthMeditation and Mindfulness: Effectiveness and Safety (opens in a new tab)
- American Diabetes AssociationDiabetes Care, Standards of Care supplement 2025 (opens in a new tab)
Further reading on Diabic
- The Sleep and Blood Sugar Connection Explained
- 6 Tips for Improving Sleep Quality with Diabetes
- Sleep Apnea and Diabetes: a Two-Way Problem Most People Miss
- Blood Sugar Drops at Night: Causes and Prevention
- Why Does Diabetes Make You Tired? What Helps
- Dawn Phenomenon vs Somogyi Effect: Night Spikes
- 7 Ways to Prevent Blood Sugar Spikes After Meals
- Dawn
- Dawn Phenomenon vs Somogyi Effect: Key Differences
- Alcohol and Diabetes: a Guide to Safe Drinking
- Diabetes Fatigue Management Tips That Actually Work
- Napping and Blood Sugar: What the Research Actually Says
- Diabetes Distress vs Depression: How to Tell the Difference
- How Diabetes Anxiety and Stress Affect Blood Sugar
- Shift Work and Diabetes: Managing Irregular Hours
- Diabetes Alert Dog vs CGM: Which Catches Lows First
- Using a Continuous Glucose Monitor for Hypoglycemia
- Simple Breathing Exercises for Better Blood Sugar
- Meditation and Blood Sugar: What Science Actually Shows
- How to Build a Daily Self-Care Diabetes Routine