Could Insomnia Be Raising My Diabetes Risk? September 8, 2026 Could Insomnia Be Raising My Diabetes Risk? If you regularly struggle to get a good night’s sleep, you probably notice the effects the next day. You might feel exhausted, struggle to concentrate or reach for an extra coffee. But ongoing insomnia may also be affecting something less obvious: the way your body manages blood sugar. Research suggests that both the quality and amount of sleep we get are linked to our risk of developing type 2 diabetes.1 So, what exactly is going on while we sleep? What does sleep have to do with blood sugar? Insulin is a hormone that helps move glucose from your bloodstream into your cells, where it can be used for energy. When your cells become less responsive to insulin, known as insulin resistance, glucose can begin to build up in the blood. Sleep appears to play an important role in keeping this system working effectively. Ongoing sleep loss has been linked with insulin resistance and glucose intolerance, while poor-quality sleep and irregular sleep schedules have also been associated with higher blood sugar levels.2 Research suggests that regularly getting fewer than six to seven hours of sleep a night may increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.2 Even the quality of those hours matters, with disrupted or less restorative sleep potentially affecting glucose regulation.2 It’s not just about what happens overnight The effects of a sleepless night can follow you into the next day and influence habits that also matter for diabetes risk. Sleep deprivation can disrupt the hormones that regulate appetite, increasing ghrelin, which makes you feel hungry, and reducing leptin, which helps you feel full.1 When you’re exhausted, you may also be more likely to reach for carbohydrate-rich or high-fat foods for a quick energy boost. Then there’s exercise. Getting moving can feel much harder after a restless night. Over time, a combination of increased food intake and reduced physical activity can contribute to weight gain, another important risk factor for type 2 diabetes.1 The relationship can go both ways While poor sleep can affect blood sugar regulation, diabetes itself can make getting a restful night more difficult. High blood sugar can cause increased thirst and frequent urination, leading to repeated trips to the bathroom during the night.1 Low blood sugar can also interrupt sleep, sometimes causing sweating, nightmares or confusion.1 Make sleep part of the bigger picture Diet and exercise often get most of the attention when it comes to diabetes prevention, but healthy sleep deserves a place in the conversation too. Keeping regular sleep and wake times, creating a cool, dark and quiet bedroom, and avoiding caffeine and nicotine close to bedtime can all support better sleep. If insomnia is becoming a regular part of your life, or you’re experiencing symptoms such as excessive thirst or frequent urination, speak with your doctor. Finding out what’s disrupting your sleep could be an important step towards protecting your metabolic health and overall wellbeing. References 1. Pacheco, Danielle. “Diabetes and Sleep: Sleep Disturbances & Coping.” Sleep Foundation, 1 Apr. 2022, https://www.sleepfoundation.org/physical-health/lack-of-sleep-and-diabetes. Accessed 11 Aug. 2026. 2) Darraj, Abdullrahman. “The Link Between Sleeping and Type 2 Diabetes: A Systematic Review.” Cureus, vol. 15, no. 11, Cureus, Inc., Nov. 2023, https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.48228. Accessed 11 Aug. 2026.
