Sleep and daily caffeine intake seem to be small factors in daily life, but play an important role in regulating blood sugar levels, especially for people with diabetes or in the pre-diabetes stage.
According to IndianExpress, Doctor V. Mohan, Chairman of the Diabetes Speciality Center in Chennai (India), shared a real case: A young female patient complained that despite regular exercise and a healthy diet, she still could not control her blood sugar.
When asked more specifically, she said that she only slept about 5 hours a night and had to drink 5-6 cups of coffee a day to stay alert.
That is the problem, Dr. Mohan asserted, saying that not getting enough sleep and consuming too much caffeine is a recept for silently but strongly causing blood sugar disorders.
Many studies have shown that sleeping less than 6 hours a night can increase cortisol levels, a stress hormone, making insulin less effective.
As a result, blood sugar levels increase, even if the diet remains unchanged. At the same time, the liver also releases more glucose to deal with the hypothetical stress that the body is feeling.
Meanwhile, coffee, which is known as a mild stimulant, becomes even more harmful when used excessively and especially when the body is lacking sleep. Drinking 5 cups or more a day can increase adrenaline and cortisol levels, making insulin resistance worse.
Worse, caffeine makes it difficult to sleep deeply and get enough sleep even if you have gone to bed on time, creating a loop: lack of sleep - drinking a lot of coffee - increasing stress hormones - increasing blood sugar - and losing sleep.
According to Dr. Mohan, to improve this condition, patients should aim for 7-8 hours of sleep each night, reduce caffeine intake to a maximum of 2 cups per day, preferably not drinking after 2pm.
At the same time, you should monitor your blood sugar level to clearly notice positive changes after one to two weeks.
Small adjustments to your living habits can significantly improve blood sugar control, reduce pressure on the pancreas and prevent long-term complications of diabetes.
Sleep is not only a time to rest, but is also an essential part of the treatment regimen.
