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? Insulin is a hormone that helps move glucose from your bloodstream into your cells, where it can be used for energy.
If you regularly struggle to get a good night’s sleep, you’ve probably noticed how drained you can feel the next day. But the effects of poor sleep may go deeper than low energy. Sleep and the immune system are closely connected, and ongoing insomnia may interfere with your body’s ability to defend itself against illness.
Your immune system is your body’s defence network - It helps fight infections, heal wounds and protect you from disease. Getting enough high-quality sleep gives this system the time and conditions it needs to work effectively.
If you regularly lie awake at night, the effects may extend well beyond feeling tired the next day. Research points to a relationship between insomnia and high blood pressure, also known as hypertension, particularly when sleep problems are frequent or ongoing.
Insomnia can look different from person to person. For some, it’s trouble falling asleep. For others, it’s waking through the night, rising too early, or simply never feeling like their sleep did the job. Researchers are still working out exactly how insomnia and blood pressure interact, but the evidence increasingly suggests it’s a two-way relationship, where each can make the other worse.
If you’re eating well and staying active but still finding it difficult to manage your weight, your sleep may be worth a closer look. Sleep is much more than downtime. It is an essential restorative process that supports the brain and the health of the entire body.
Research has consistently linked insufficient sleep with a greater risk of weight gain and obesity.1 For most adults, around seven to nine hours of sleep each night is considered appropriate for good health. Regularly falling short can affect appetite, food choices, activity levels and the way your body uses energy.
We all have nights when sleep just won’t come. Maybe you find yourself staring at the ceiling long after going to bed, or perhaps you fall asleep easily but keep waking throughout the night. An occasional restless night is usually nothing to worry about. But when poor sleep becomes a regular occurrence, it may affect more than just how tired you feel the next day.
Research increasingly suggests that insomnia is associated with cardiovascular disease, including coronary artery disease, heart attacks and heart failure.
