Sleep Problems:

Eliminating Future Complications
For Good Diabetic Health

While an occasional night of sleep problems, known as insomnia, is considered pretty normal, a continued habit of lack of sleep is not only a pre-cursor to that “zombie-like feeling all of the next day, it also is very destructive to your general health.

What’s Your Common Sleep Concern

• when you have trouble every day falling asleep, this is often caused by too much caffeine, certain medications or too high levels of stress in your life, especially right before bedtime.

• waking up to early every night and not being able to fall back to sleep is a sign of depression. See a therapist or a doctor for some help in relieving the issues which are robbing you of much needed rest.

• waking up once or twice every night is often a sign of aging. Younger people tend to sleep more and longer than aging people. Alcohol also tends to put most people to sleep easily. But after a few hours of your metabolism running overtime to process it, this increase in digestion tends to wake up many people too early.

• you manage to sleep through every night, you don’t remember ever waking up with any sleep problems, so why are you so exhausted in the morning? This situation usually is apparent in heavy snorers. Often this person will just slightly wake up due to a shortage of breath, also known as sleep apnea. Check with your doctor for testing.

Figuring out the main concern of your diabetes and sleep problems, with time and therapy can often lead to an elimination of all of your concerns.

Easy Changes To Help Common Problems

• start a 10-15 minute meditation session right before bed each day. Over time, the reduction in stress and blood pressure allows your body a sense of peacefulness which is needed for sleep

• a long hot shower a couple of hours before bedtime signals the body’s internal clock that it is time to rest, ultimately allowing a longer and better sleep cycle

• each day try to get at least 15-20 minutes of bright sunshine against your skin. The manufacture of Vitamin D (which is promoted by the sun within your body) allows a more regular and consistent sleep cycle.

• add some aromatherapy oils to your bedroom environment through a diffuser. Certain scents such as lavender, chamomile and ylang-ylang induce a sense of pure relaxation in the human body thus placing you in the mood to sleep.

• if you are in bed, your mind won’t shut down and all attempts to fall asleep have failed - get up and do something for about an hour. Pick slow and non-stimulating experiences (read a book, watch a documentary, listen to quiet music etc) and then try again later to go back to bed.

• as a last resort, an over-the-counter sleeping pill can be used for a once or twice situation. Do not get in the habit of using these tablets to eliminate sleep problems though. Your body eventually re-adjusts to their use and you will find you have even more difficulties trying to get to sleep because they will no longer be effective.

So because a good night’s sleep is anything but a luxury in this world, effectively managing your sleep problems, deciphering the principles of your particular problem and utilizing some of these natural approaches to sleep control for your continued health is a necessity which can not be ignored or taken lightly. Your reward will be a longer, fuller and less disease-ridden amount of future years in your life.

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