Hypoglycemia Insomnia – Sleep problems due to hypoglycemia

One of the most frustrating symptoms of hypoglycemia is insomnia. Severe tension and fatigue due to hypoglycemia, insomnia can already lead you to a complete collapse. Constant pain, fatigue, and lack of sleep will wear anyone down physically and mentally.

Insomnia is the inability to fall asleep or stay asleep throughout the night. This inability to fall asleep can be caused by stress, sleep anxiety, or stimulants like coffee and tea. If you are suffering from hypoglycemia, your insomnia is most likely caused by low blood sugar. When your blood sugar falls below a certain level, your brain will be stimulated and you will be woken up, prompting you to eat something. This is part of the body’s defense mechanism.

If your insomnia is caused by hypoglycemia, the use of sleeping pills or other remedies will never help you overcome insomnia because the root cause of the problem – low blood sugar – is not addressed. So, to overcome hypoglycemia-induced insomnia, you’ll need to find a way to keep your blood sugar level up throughout the night.

One of the best ways to do this is to have a light snack 1 to 2 hours before bed. Your snack choice should be high in complex carbohydrates because they increase serotonin, a brain neurotransmitter that promotes sleep. Also, complex carbohydrates are more difficult to break down into glucose and are therefore slowly but steadily absorbed into the bloodstream. This property is what you are looking for to keep your sugar level constant throughout the night.

Some examples of good bedtime snacks are: (whole wheat) bread, oatmeal, salads, etc.

Stimulants such as coffee, tea, and alcohol should be avoided as they keep you mentally alert. Foods high in sugar should also be avoided, as they can raise your blood sugar very quickly, causing your pancreas to produce large amounts of insulin, which will subsequently send you into hypoglycemic mode.