Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCausesImpact on SleepNighttime SnacksManaging Sugar Levels
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Causes
Impact on Sleep
Nighttime Snacks
Managing Sugar Levels
Going to bed with high blood sugar can be uncomfortable. The best way to counter high blood sugar, or hyperglycemia, at night is a routine that keeps your blood sugar balanced throughout the day.
High blood sugar occurs when blood glucose levels are too high. Though it is a well-known symptom of diabetes, you can still havehigh blood sugareven if you don’t have diabetes.Diabetes occurs when your body can’t produce enough—or sometimes any—insulin. Insulin is a hormone made in the pancreas that helps regulate blood sugar levels and stores excess glucose for energy.
Glucose levels change throughout the day and in relation to when you have last eaten. When your blood glucose is higher than 130 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) while fasting, 180 mg/dL approximately two hours after eating, or higher than 200 mg/dL when randomly tested, you are considered to have hyperglycemia.
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Causes of High Blood Sugar at Night
There are many causes of high blood sugar at night, including:
What to Eat to Better Regulate Your Blood Sugar
How High Blood Sugar Impacts Sleep
The symptoms you may experience with high blood sugar at night could make it difficult for you to sleep, including falling and staying asleep. Depending on when you eat prior to bedtime, your digestive system may wake you up at odd hours.
A related issue is known as thedawn phenomenon, which is when you wake up with high blood sugar in the morning. The foods you eat in the evening may contribute slightly to this.
Diabetes Side Effects and Comorbidities
Nighttime Snacks to Regulate Blood Sugar
The best nighttime snacks to regulate blood sugar contain a combination of protein, a healthy fat, and a limited portion of complex carbohydrates, meaning one with fiber.
There are many snacks that fit this standard, including:
Supporting Healthy Blood Sugar Levels
Maintaining healthy blood sugar levels during the day is a good way to prevent high blood sugar at night. That means exercising regularly, taking the right amount of diabetes medications if you use them, and managing stress levels.
Lack of sleep itself is a possible risk factor for type 2 diabetes, so it is important to maintain a healthy sleep cycle as part of a healthy lifestyle.
Home Remedies for Better Sleep
A Word From Verywell
If you notice unusual symptoms of high blood sugar in the evenings, such as sudden changes in vision, seek immediate medical attention.By recognizing that you are prone to nighttime high blood sugar, you can work to identify the triggers and mitigate the associated risks, thus reducing your chances of having long-term poor health outcomes.
20 Sources
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U.S. Department of Agriculture: FoodData Central.Mixed nuts, without peanuts, unsalted.
U.S. Department of Agriculture: FoodData Central.Crackers, whole-wheat.
U.S. Department of Agriculture: FoodData Central.Apple.
U.S. Department of Agriculture: FoodData Central.Peanut butter.
U.S. Department of Agriculture: FoodData Central.Yogurt, Greek, plain, nonfat.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration.FDA announces qualified health claim for yogurt and reduced risk of type 2 diabetes.
U.S. Department of Agriculture: FoodData Central.Snacks, popcorn, air-popped.
U.S. Department of Agriculture: FoodData Central.Cheese, parmesan, grated.
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