Post Time: 2025-07-18
Sleep is a fundamental aspect of our daily lives. During sleep, various physiological processes occur that are crucial for maintaining optimal health. One such process is blood sugar regulation. When we don't get enough quality sleep, it can have far-reaching effects on our overall well-being.
The Connection Between Sleep and Blood Sugar Regulation
When we experience chronic stress or poor sleep, the body's natural response is to release cortisol, a hormone that increases glucose production in the liver and insulin resistance. This means that when you're not getting quality sleep, your body becomes less responsive to insulin, making it harder for glucose to enter cells.
The Role of Poor Sleep Quality on High Blood Pressure
High blood pressure can also be directly linked back to poor sleep habits. When we don't get enough restorative sleep, the body's natural repair and rejuvenation processes are impaired. This includes inflammation regulation within our cardiovascular system. Inflammation is a known risk factor for high blood pressure.
Linking Poor Sleep with Elevated A1C Levels
A key indicator of long-term blood sugar control is an individual's average glucose level over time, measured by their A1c levels. Chronic poor sleep can disrupt the body's natural cortisol rhythms and lead to higher stress responses throughout the day, making it more challenging for people with diabetes or pre-diabetes conditions.
Why Managing Sleep Quality Matters
Managing sleep quality involves creating a regular sleep schedule, avoiding caffeine and electronics before bedtime, keeping bedrooms cool and dark. A study published in 2019 found that just one week of poor sleep reduced insulin sensitivity by up to 45% in healthy adults.
Access to affordable healthcare for folks with diabetes has been a pressing issue in many communities. But how exactly does diabetes affect the body? Today's Clinical Cut is all about diabetes mellitus. In diabetes mellitus, your body has trouble moving glucose, which is a type of sugar, from your blood into your cells. This leads to high levels of glucose in your blood and not enough of it in your cells, and remember that your cells need glucose as a source of energy, so not letting the glucose enter means that the cells starve for energy despite having glucose right on their doorstep. In general, the body controls how much glucose is in the blood relative to how much gets into the cells with two hormones: insulin and glucagon. Insulin is used to reduce blood glucose levels, and glucagon is used do probiotics lower blood sugar to increase blood glucose levels. Both of these hormones are produced by clusters of cells in the pancreas called islets of Langerhans. Insulin is secreted by beta cells in the center of the islets, and glucagon is secreted by alpha cells in the periphery of the islets. There are two types of diabetes - Type 1 and Type 2, and the main difference between them is the underlying mechanism that causes the blood glucose levels to rise. Diabetes mellitus is diagnosed when the blood glucose levels get too high, and this is seen among 10% of the world population. About 10% of people with diabetes have Type 1, and the remaining 90% of people with diabetes have Type 2. Check out the full video and explanation to learn more about diabetes mellitus on Osmosis: #learnbyosmosis #clinicalcuts #diabetes #diabetesmellitus #type1diabetes #type2diabetes #glucagon #insulin #pathology #physiology #medicine #medstudent #medicalschool #shorts Find our full video library only on Osmosis: Join millions of current and future clinicians who learn by Osmosis, along with hundreds of universities around the world who partner with Osmosis from Elseiver to make medical and health education more engaging and efficient. We have unparalleled tools and materials to prepare you for success normal blood sugar level in mmol in school, on your board exams, and as a future clinician. Sign up for a free trial at If you're interested in exploring an institutional partnership, visit osmosis.org/educators to request a personalized demo. Follow us on social: Facebook: Twitter: Instagram for med: Instagram for nursing: TikTok: Linkedin: Our Vision: Everyone who cares for someone will learn by Osmosis. Our Mission: To empower the world’s clinicians and caregivers with the best learning experience keeping blood sugar levels stable possible. Learn more here: Medical disclaimer: Osmosis from Elsevier does not provide medical advice. Osmosis from Elsevier and the content available on the Osmosis from Elsevier properties (Osmosis.org, YouTube, and other channels) do not provide a diagnosis or other recommendation for treatment and are not a substitute for the professional judgment of a healthcare professional in diagnosis and treatment of any person or animal. The determination of the need for medical services and the types of healthcare to be provided to a patient are decisions that should be made only by a physician or other licensed healthcare provider. Always seek the advice of a physician or other qualified healthcare professional with any questions you have regarding a medical condition. © 2024 Elsevier. All rights reserved.