Overlooked Diabetes Risk Drives Up Blood Sugar
By
Dr. Scott Olson, ND
Posted March 17, 2023
If you’re concerned about diabetes, you’ve probably done your research.
You likely focused on all the common problem areas to ward off rising blood sugar: the grocery store… the gym… and the bathroom scale.
And those ARE all great places to start!
Eating better, exercising, and losing weight can go a long way toward bringing your numbers under control.
But most folks miss one other critical problem area that can send your blood sugar soaring.
In your quest to head off diabetes, you’ve probably never considered the role your bedroom could play.
But the truth is it could hold the key to FINALLY getting your blood sugar under control.
Let me explain…
Recently Australian researchers asked over 1,000 adults about their sleep habits. They found that folks who had trouble sleeping were MUCH more likely to have a higher body mass, increased inflammation, and elevated cholesterol levels.
And those three metabolic-linked issues are typically a red flag for poor blood sugar control.
But according to the new study it’s not just sleep duration (how long you sleep) that’s an issue.
How regular your sleep habits are and how SOUNDLY you sleep (sleep quality) are every bit as critical.
So go ahead and keep up with the healthy eating, exercising, and maintaining a healthy weight. But add in getting quality sleep too.
If you find yourself struggling to get good sleep, my Better-Sleep Protocol can help:
- Exercise is one of the best paths to a good night’s sleep. When your body is physically tired, your mind has no choice but to give in. Find an exercise you love to do to stay motivated. And increase how much you exercise when you feel stressed.
- Avoid caffeine in the afternoon. This means skipping coffee, tea, chocolate, and energy drinks.
- Cut back on alcohol which leads to light and easily disturbed sleep.
- Sleeping alone is an option for folks accidentally woken up by their partner. A spouse who snores or is restless at night can disturb your sleep. The National Sleep Foundation found nearly 25 percent of couples sleep in separate beds. So you’d be in good company.
- Calming herbs such as hops, passionflower, lemon balm, chamomile, and valerian help relax the body and mind promoting restful sleep.
- Theanine is an amino acid in green tea that helps people feel calm. A caffeine-free green tea before bed could help if you’re battling anxiety or stress.
- Melatonin is a hormone that helps regulate your sleep-wake cycle. Taking a supplement can help reset your circadian rhythms, promoting better sleep.
Sleep plays a critical role in good blood sugar control. Make quality rest a priority to help reduce your diabetes risk.
P.S. Recent research has revealed coffee can SLASH your diabetes risk. But there’s one small catch. To get those diabetes-fighting benefits, it has to be the RIGHT kind of coffee. CLICK HERE for the scoop.
Source:
“Multidimensional Sleep and Cardiometabolic Risk Factors for Type 2 Diabetes: Examining Self-Report and Objective Dimensions of Sleep” 2 November 2022, The Science of Diabetes Self-Management and Care. DOI: 10.1177/26350106221137896
Written By Dr. Scott Olson, ND
Nearly 25 years ago, failed mainstream medical treatments left Dr. Olson in constant pain – and his health in ruins. And that’s when he did something REVOLUTIONARY. He began his career in medicine – and dedicated his life to uncovering the true, underlying causes of disease.
Through his innovative medical practices in Tennessee and Colorado, Dr. Olson has helped cure countless seniors from across America of arthritis… heart disease… diabetes… and even cancer. All without risky prescription drugs or painful surgeries.
View More Free Articles
Doctor-Approved Method to Ditch Blood Pressure Meds
In a world where drug solutions dominate healthcare, it’s refreshing to discover that best remedies sometimes don’t involve a single pill. A groundbreaking study shows simple relaxation techniques could be your secret weapon against one of America’s deadliest health conditions. Best of all? It’s free, easy to start right away—and your results are bound to...
Trouble Hearing? Your Heart Could Be at Risk
With research exploding and data pouring in, scientists are uncovering some weird (and surprisingly helpful) health connections. Today’s odd couple? Hearing loss and heart failure. Turns out your ears and your ticker are more connected than you ever imagined. A major study published in the journal Heart looked at over 164,000 people for nearly a...
Stay Up Late? It Could Destroy Your Mental Health
If you dread mornings but come alive at night, there’s concerning new research you need to know about. A recent study found that “night owls” are at higher risk for depression. But before you rush to set your alarm to get up with the sun tomorrow, there’s more to the story… Chronotypes are essentially your...
Go from Flabby to Fit with this Common Vitamin
If you’re like many of us, you woke up one day, looked in the mirror, and realized you’re no spring chicken anymore. Even worse—when you weren’t paying attention—it seems you somehow misplaced the muscles of your youth and have gone from fit to flabby. Aging has a way of humbling us like that. But scientists...
Seasonal Allergy “Off Switch” Discovered in the GUT
“Doc, why am I suddenly suffering from seasonal allergies when I’ve never had them before?” It’s a question I get all the time—and my answer might surprise you. Stop looking up at the trees—and start looking down at your gut… Your sneezing fits, itchy eyes, and runny nose might have more to do with what’s...
“Canary in the Coal Mine” Test Sniffs Out Brain Issues Early
One of the most common questions I get is how to tell if you’re starting to experience cognitive decline. I get it—losing your memory is scary, especially when it sneaks up on you. But here’s some exciting news that might put your mind at ease. A fascinating new study suggests that your nose might be...
BEAT Stubborn Leg Swelling Without Dangerous Diuretics
“I need help with edema.” —Swollen Hi Swollen, When patients complain of edema—fluid retention that causes feet, ankles, and legs to swell—I explain that, while conventional medicine immediately prescribes diuretic drugs, nature offers us effective solutions we can try first. I’ll share those in just a moment, but first, let’s take a quick look at...
Mental Health Linked to 30% FASTER Aging [6-Step FIX]
Your mind and body are more connected than you might realize—and a groundbreaking new study proves just how profound that connection really is. In fact, it’s this mind-body link that helps explain why battling depression can put you on the fast track to physical decline. Depression is the most common mental health condition worldwide. We’ve...
The Air You Breathe Is Silently Stealing Your Memory
You already know that air pollution damages your lungs. Chances are you’ve heard it can also harm your heart. And I bet you won’t be surprised when I tell you it claims millions of lives annually. But now, alarming new research suggests polluted air might also damage your brain. This study found that long-term exposure...
Get Intermittent Fasting Benefits Without Going Hungry
Intermittent fasting, which involves cycling between eating and fasting periods, is effective. There’s plenty of evidence for that. It’s not just weight loss, either. Intermittent fasting has significant benefits for metabolic health. However, many people find fasting difficult to stick to—and others can’t do it at all due to medical issues—so they miss out on...