Sleep and diabetes: a powerful connection

This World Sleep Day, let's explore the (often) surprising link between sleep and diabetes. At PDC Health Hub, alongside our onsite-pharmacy (Pharmacy 777), we're dedicated to helping people with diabetes manage all aspects of their health. We know good sleep goes beyond just feeling rested – it's also very helpful for diabetes diabetes management.

‍The sleep-diabetes connection

You might not think about sleep and diabetes being related, but research shows a strong connection.

• Poor sl as been linked to high blood sugar levels in people with diabetes and prediabetes
• High blood sugar levels and/or low blood sugar during the night can lead to insomnia and fatigue the following day.
• When blood sugar levels are high, this can result in an increased need to urinate overnight.
• Poor sleep can lead to insulin resistance.

How poor sleep affects diabetes management

• Insulin resistance: When you don't sleep well, your body may resist insulin. With resistance, blood sugar levels rise, making diabetes more difficult to manage.
• Glucose control: Disrupted sleep throws off your body's natural rhythm, affecting how it controls blood sugar. This imbalance can lead to higher blood sugar levels, another challenge for diabetes management.
• Weight management: Lack of sleep can disrupt the hormones that control hunger. You might feel hungrier and crave sugary or unhealthy foods. Over time, this could lead to weight gain, a risk factor for type 2 diabetes.
• Heart health: Both diabetes and sleep problems, like sleep apnoea (where breathing pauses during sleep), share risk factors and often co-occur. Sleep apnoea can further strain your heart, increasing the risk of heart disease and stroke in people with diabetes.

Empowering you with comprehensive, tailored care

At PDC Health Hub and Pharmacy 777, we believe sleep health is a vital part of diabetes management. Our team combines expertise in diabetes care, sleep medicine, and pharmacy services to offer personalised support that is tailored to your needs.

Here's how we can help:

• Sleep studies: Our advanced sleep clinic offers comprehensive sleep studies to diagnose sleep disorders like sleep apnoea, restless legs, and insomnia.
• Sleep apnoea screenings: We provide specialized screenings for sleep apnoea, a common yet under-diagnosed condition that can significantly impact diabetes management.
• Sleep health education: Our team offers personalised education and counseling on sleep hygiene, stress management, and lifestyle changes to improve sleep quality and overall well-being.
• Medication management: Our pharmacy team, with expertise in both diabetes and sleep, works closely with healthcare providers to ensure safe and effective medication management, minimising potential interactions and side effects.

World Sleep Day is a reminder that prioritising sleep is essential for managing diabetes - and our health in general. At PDC Health Hub and Pharmacy 777, we're here to help you achieve better sleep and better health, one restful night at a time.

If you'd like to book in for a sleep health check, sleep apnoea consult or diabetes education appointment please contact us via email admin@pdchealthhub.com.au or call 08 6110 0570. Our wonderful client support team will be more than happy to help however they can! 

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