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I know some of you guys out there are burning the candle at both ends. You feel like need to do this for your career, and so you look for ways to put more hours back into your day, and many times, that means you are skipping some much needed sleep.
I’m here to tell you that while burning the midnight oil is okay if you do it sometimes, consistently denying yourself sleep will ultimately hurt you in the long run, and likely denying you the goal you are trying to achieve.
The folks at WebMD have put together a concise set of reactions your body will have should you deny yourself sleep. And none of these reactions are something you want to happen to you.
Bad Sleep Can Lead to Type 2 Diabetes
Too little or poor sleep causes changes in some powerful hormones. Those hormonal adjustments can make it harder to keep your blood sugar and weight under control.
Insulin. This is a hormone that helps your body turn glucose (a type of sugar) into energy. When you’re low on sleep, your cells aren’t as sensitive to insulin. Doctors call this insulin resistance. Over time, glucose builds up in your blood and your odds of getting type 2 diabetes go up. Other things can cause insulin resistance too, like being overweight.
Cortisol. When you don’t get enough ZZZs, your body releases more of this stress hormone. But too much of it for too long can mess with your sleep even more and keep you up at night. High cortisol also makes it harder for glucose to get into your cells. That leaves more in your bloodstream.
Ghrelin. Skimp on sleep and you may put on a few pounds. Poor sleep raises levels of the hunger hormone ghrelin. As a result, you’re always hungry. And being up all night means you’ve got more time to raid the fridge. Odds are you’ll reach for carbs and sugary snacks instead of carrot sticks. Extra weight and a poor diet are two big drivers of diabetes.
Also note that obstructed sleep apnea can disrupt your sleep, causing you to wake up several times a night, and leading to results like those listed above. If you or your spouse that you are waking up several times a night, or if you are tired, even after sleeping for a full night, talk with your doctor and explain to him/her what you are experiencing.
#health #diabetes #bloodsugar #sleepapnea #sleep #wide-body
The Wide-Body 