In the midst of your hectic, fast-paced life, getting a good night’s sleep can easily slip down your priority list.
Consider this a wake-up call.
Research shows most adults need at least 7 hours of sleep a night.1 Yet 1 in 3 American adults don’t get enough. And short sleepers are at greater risk of developing serious health conditions — such as high cholesterol, heart attack or stroke.
Table of contents
- Signs of poor sleep
- Sleep and diabetes
- How to get your ZZZs
- Sources
Signs of poor sleep
So how do you know if you’re sleep-deprived? Common warning signs include:
- Lack of energy
- Drowsiness
- Mood changes
- Forgetfulness
- Trouble focusing
- Weight gain
Another simple indicator: If you need an alarm clock to wake up, you’re probably not getting the sleep you need. When you’re well-rested, you’ll wake up before the alarm goes off.
Sleep and diabetes
For people with diabetes, good sleep is just as important as staying active and eating right.
Without enough rest, fatigue or lack of energy can make it harder to keep up with your regular management routine. Too little sleep can also:
- Increase insulin resistance
- Raise blood pressure
- Decrease immune response
- Increase anxiety and depression
How to get your ZZZs
If you’re not getting enough sleep, try these tips for sleeping better. And be sure to talk to your doctor to find out if there’s something else you can do.
Sources
- Watson NF, et al. Recommended amount of sleep for a healthy adult: a joint consensus statement of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and Sleep Research Society. Sleep 2015;38(6):843–844.
https://aasm.org/resources/pdf/pressroom/adult-sleep-duration-consensus.pdf - https://www.cdc.gov/sleep/data_statistics.html
- https://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/sleep-requirements
- https://www.webmd.com/diabetes/features/diabetes-lack-of-sleep
- https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/library/features/diabetes-sleep.html
- https://www.healthline.com/health/diabetes/diabetes-and-sleep
