How Prioritizing Sleep Helps Me Manage My Blood Sugar

Nikki uses calming techniques like dimming the lights, meditating, and drinking decaf tea in order to get quality sleep.

Written by Marisa Taylor Karas | Reviewed by Mera Goodman, MD, FAAP

Updated on October 31, 2024

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Nikki knows that it’s very important to get quality sleep when it comes to managing her Type 2 diabetes. That’s because a lack of proper sleep may worsen insulin resistance.

“When I'm able to rest, my glucose levels, they definitely fall in the normal  ranges,” she explains. 

Here are some of the ways she manages to get a good night of rest:

• Blackout curtains: Blocking out extra light may make it easier to sleep.

• Meditating before bed: Nikki uses meditation apps on her phone to wind down and relax her mind.

• Dimming the lights in the evening: With her lights on a dimmer setting, it signals to Nikki that it’s soon time to turn in.

• Decaf tea and pleasant scents: A soothing cup of tea and essential oil in her diffuser allow Nikki to ease into some quiet time before bed.

• Soothing paint color for bedroom walls: “I chose to go with a dark setting in my bedroom,” Nikki says. “It makes you feel cozy and intimate.”

• Create a relaxing space: She has turned her bedroom into a sanctuary, adding high-thread count sheets and a comfortable pillow to enhance her sleep.

You can read more about Nikki’s experience with Type 2 diabetes here and how she manages her A1C here.

Additional Medical Contributors

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• Nikki NurseNikki Nurse is a writer, wellness advocate, caregiver, and content creator based in Brooklyn. She covers fitness, nutrition, mental health, and personal development.

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References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020). Improve sleep by avoiding light.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). New beginnings mini-lesson: mindfulness strategies.

View All References (4)

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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). New beginnings mini-lesson: sleep health.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). Your immune system and diabetes.

Donga, Esther, et al. (2010). The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism.A single night of partial sleep deprivation induces insulin resistance in multiple metabolic pathways in healthy subjects.

Knutson, Kristen L. (2007). Sleep Medicine Clinics. Impact of sleep and sleep loss on glucose homeostasis and appetite regulation. 

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