In the fast-paced modern life, health issues are getting more and more attention. Among them, diabetes, as a widespread and persistent chronic disease, has brought continuous and significant distress to the lives of countless people. However, many people are unaware of the early symptoms of diabetes, especially those associated with sleep.
1. Frequent awakening at night, difficulty falling asleep
Mr. Wang has been feeling tired lately, and he has been lying down early in the evening, but he always has difficulty sleeping, and even when he is asleep, he will wake up frequently. He attributed it to the high level of work pressure, but even after adjusting his work and eating habits, his condition did not improve. Under the precise advice of the doctor, Mr. Wang immediately underwent a detailed blood sugar check, and the results showed that his blood sugar level far exceeded the health standard, showing an abnormally high level.
In fact, frequent awakenings at night are a common symptom of elevated blood sugar. When blood sugar levels rise, the body needs more insulin to help cells absorb blood sugar, but if insulin secretion is insufficient or cells are less sensitive to insulin, blood sugar cannot be absorbed and utilized effectively. At this time, the body secretes hormones such as adrenaline to raise blood sugar in order to regulate, but the fluctuation of these hormones can also interfere with the nervous system, which can cause insomnia and frequent awakenings at night.
2. Frequent abnormal thirst, especially at night, frequent urge to urinate and increased urine output, which brings a lot of inconvenience to sleep.
Ms. Li recently found that her sleep quality had deteriorated severely, not only waking up often at night, but also feeling thirsty and needing a lot of water every time she woke up. At the same time, her frequency of urination at night increased significantly, which seriously interfered with her sleep quality. On the advice of her doctor, Ms. Li had a blood sugar test, which also showed that her blood sugar level was high.
As blood glucose levels continue to rise, the concentration of glucose in the blood increases rapidly, significantly increasing the osmolality of the plasma, causing it to increase accordingly. In order to maintain the balance of plasma osmolality, the body's mechanisms are activated to excrete excess water and glucose through the urine, a regulatory process that leads to a significant increase in urine output. At the same time, as the body desperately needs to replenish water to balance excess glucose in the blood, patients experience an almost unbearable feeling of extreme thirst that cannot be ignored. This type of thirst and frequent urination at night will undoubtedly further impair the patient's sleep quality.
3. Numbness of the limbs and cramps at night
Uncle Zhang has recently noticed that his hands and feet often feel numb, especially in the dead of night, this numbness is more and more obvious. Sometimes he would wake up with calf cramps, which severely affected his sleep. Accompanied by his children, Uncle Zhang went to the hospital for a check-up, and the results showed that his blood sugar level was high and he had already developed symptoms of diabetic neuropathy.
Persistent hyperglycemia erodes the body's nervous system, triggering damage to nerve fibers, which in turn slows down the conduction of nerve signals. Diabetic patients are often threatened by neuropathy, in which the nerves in the distal limbs are particularly fragile and often become the focal area of the disease. When nerves are damaged, patients may experience abnormal sensations such as numbness, sharp tingling, or unbearable pain in their hands and feet. At the same time, the ability of nerves to regulate muscles is reduced, and patients may also experience frequent muscle spasms or cramps. These constant discomforts are like invisible eroders, constantly eating away at the patient's sleep quality, bringing them endless annoyance and distress.
How can these symptoms be prevented and improved?
Eat right: Maintaining a balanced diet is key to preventing and improving blood sugar elevations. It is recommended to eat more fiber-rich vegetables, fruits, and whole grains to supplement your body's needs, while reducing your intake of foods high in sugar, fat, and salt.
Moderate exercise: Proper physical activity is a powerful way to lower blood sugar and a key part of improving your body's insulin sensitivity. I highly recommend setting aside at least 150 minutes each week for moderate-intensity aerobic exercise, such as an energetic brisk walk, a dip in clear waters, or a ride in beautiful natural scenery, to effectively maintain and further enhance our physical fitness.
Weight management is essential for health: staying overweight for a long time can significantly increase an individual's potential risk of developing diabetes. Through a well-planned and balanced diet, as well as regular and consistent moderate physical activity, we can effectively manage our weight and significantly reduce our risk of diabetes.
Check your blood sugar regularly: It's important for people who are prone to blood sugar fluctuations to check their blood sugar regularly. By monitoring individual blood glucose levels, we can quickly detect and respond to any potential abnormalities.
High-quality sleep habits: Adhere to a fixed daily sleep time, avoid intense or stressful activities and heavy eating at night, and carefully create a peaceful and comfortable sleeping environment to significantly improve sleep quality.
Diabetes is a chronic disease whose early symptoms may not be obvious, but if left unattended and untreated, the condition can gradually worsen and lead to a series of complications. Therefore, we should pay attention to our physical condition, especially those abnormalities related to sleep. If you notice an abnormally high blood sugar level, it is important to seek medical attention quickly and take immediate targeted intervention and effective treatment. At the same time, we should also prevent and improve the rise in blood sugar through reasonable diet and moderate exercise, and maintain a healthy lifestyle.