On the eighth day of Blue Christmas my true love sent to me a Sunrise Alarm Clock to help me get a good night’s sleep. 

Divabetic is celebrating a Blue Christmas to bring attention to the mental health issues related to living with diabetes.

You probably know better than we do how diabetes affects your holiday experience. You might feel the weight of diabetes more at this time, because you can’t let go and celebrate like everyone else. Or maybe you do let go and then beat yourself up over it.

That’s why we asked our panel of experts, friends and past Diabetes Late Nite podcast guests to spread some holiday cheer by sharing their favorite products to help keep you ‘happy and healthy’ all year long.

Sunrise alarm clocks gradually brightens from 1% to 100% in 30 minutes before the alarm time. And the light gradually dims and turns off finally when you set the sunset model. The gradual sunrise will naturally ease you awake, the alarm clock will ring at the time you set. Additionally, the adjustable sunset light helps guide you toward restful sleep.

Sunrise alarm clocks have 6 natural sounds (water, frogs, birds, sea waves and so on). FM radio can scan and save up to 40 radio channels automatically. Snooze function is available and the alarm rings every 5 minutes and gradually louder to gently bring you out of deep sleep. You can select one of seven colors(warm white-green-red-blue-purple-orange-indigo), or just let them cycle.

If you’ve ever slept in a room with east-facing windows, you know a sunrise has the power to wake you from even the deepest slumber, without being overly jarring. A sunrise alarm clock (which simulates a real sunrise by emitting red hues that turn bright yellow by your set wake-up time) can give you that same sensation anytime, any place. By mirroring the way you’d naturally wake up over a 30-minute period, it’s unlikely to awaken you during the middle of a REM cycle—which means you’ll feel more rested throughout the day. That said, this gadget is definitely one that we can see sticking around for the long haul.

Can lack of sleep affect your diabetes?

Sleep can affect your blood sugar levels, and your blood glucose control can also affect your sleep. It’s a vicious cycle. As the amount of sleep decreases, blood sugar increases, escalating the issue. Lack of sleep has been shown to increase blood sugar levels and the risk of diabetic issue.

Sleepless and restless nights hurt more than your mood and energy; it is a form of chronic stress on the body.  When there is added stress on your body this results in having higher blood sugar levels.  When researchers restricted people with type-1 diabetes to just 4 hours of sleep, their sensitivity to insulin was reduced by 20% compared to that after a full night of sleep.

When your blood sugar is really high, your kidneys will try to get rid of it by removing it from the body via urination.  This most likely causes you to get out of bed and go to the bathroom all night, resulting in inconsistent sleep patterns.  It can also wake you up by feelings of thirstiness.

High blood sugar levels also make it less comfortable for you to sleep by feelings of warmness, irritability and unsettledness.

Getting into a consistent sleep routine will improve your overall health and you may start to see subtle improvements in blood sugar as well.  The following tips sleep tips may help to promote better sleep:

• Check and monitor your blood glucose to keep it under control
• Establish a regular bedtime routine
• Ensure your bed is large and comfortable enough
• Ensure your room is cool and well ventilated
• Ensure your room is dark and free from noise
• Incorporating a period of exercise into each day

To stay informed on more information regarding diabetes and sleep issues subscribe to our blog.  And remember, you can always contact us here at The Alaska Sleep Clinic for any questions regarding how diabetes can affect your sleep at 855-AKSLEEP (855-257-5337).

On December’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast we’re celebrating a Blue Christmas. I chose this theme in December because ‘Blue’ is the color that I most closely associate with diabetes and I feel that the mental health issues related to diabetes are often overlooked and ignored. Some listeners may feel that talking about depression is depressing which is understandable. However, I feel it is far more important to reach out to those coping with diabetes distress and burnout and let them know they are not alone.  Please join us!

TUNE IN! Don’t miss December’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast featuring music by Elvis Presley on Tuesday, December 12, 2017, 6 PM, EST. We will be discussing ways to not let diabetes make you feel ‘blue’ during the holiday season with our panel of experts. Guests include ‘Walking With Peety’ Author Eric O’Grey, Chilbrook Kennels Breeder Author, Diabetes Alert Dog and Scent Detection Expert, Debby Kay, Poet Lorraine Brooks, Susan Weiner MS, RDN, CDE, CDN, the Charlie’s Angels of Outreach featuring Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE and America’s #1 Energy Conductor, High Voltage. Throughout the podcast we will be featuring songs from the new “Christmas with Elvis and The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra” album courtesy of SONY Music. The album brings together Elvis Presley’s best-loved yuletide performances from “Elvis’ Christmas Album” (1957) and “Elvis Sings the Wonderful World of Christmas” (1971) re-imagined with sublime and exquisite new arrangements performed by The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

NEED MORE INSPIRATION? Our panel of experts, Divabetic community members and past Diabetes Late Nite guests will be sharing more Blue Christmas Gift suggestions on this blog for the next twelve days to help you enjoy the festive spirit of the season without compromising your diabetes health!

Are you feeling ‘blue’ this holiday season?

You’re not alone.

While it’s true that sadness and/or depression at holiday time can be a reaction to the stresses and demands of the season, people with diabetes are more likely to be depressed than others states David Spero BSN, RN for Diabetes Self-Management.

Diabetes can cause complications and health problems that may worsen symptoms of depression. Depression can lead to poor lifestyle decisions, such as unhealthy eating, less exercise, smoking and weight gain — all of which are risk factors for diabetes.

The good news is that diabetes and depression can be treated together. And effectively managing one can have a positive effect on the other.

If you think you might be depressed, seek help right away. Your doctor or diabetes educator can refer you to a mental health professional.