Doctors are always recommending that diabetics pay close attention to their weight and even try to lose some pounds. Doing so helps to keep blood sugar levels stable and can even reverse some of the symptoms of diabetes.
However, those who have a poor sleep or who aren’t getting enough at night may be hurting their diet.
The Study Results
Research released in the December 2016 issue of Sleep Health found that there is a strong correlation between an increased intake of sugary drinks and getting less sleep. Essentially, those who slept five hours or less per night had a 21% higher intake of sweetened, caffeinated drinks compared to the control group. The control group being people who slept between seven to eight hours per night.
This included almost any caffeinated drink with added sugar, such as:
- Soda pop
- Sweet tea
- Coffee drinks
The Never-Ending Cycle
The authors of the study stated that they couldn’t be certain whether the sugary drinks were causing less sleep or if those who had less sleep were taking in more calories in the form of the drinks. Previous research has shown that getting fewer ZZZs can increase your appetite during the daytime.
It may be a combination of the two factors that leads to an ongoing cycle for diabetics who need sweet, caffeinated drinks to get through the day. A bad night can increase the desire for something like a cappuccino to satisfy the appetite and increase alertness. At night, the resulting high blood sugar and caffeine in their system makes it difficult to get enough rest.
Healthy Drink Alternatives
Those who are stuck in the sleep – soda cycle may be able to gradually faze out caffeinated beverages for healthy alternatives. Consider reaching for one of these drinks the next time you feel a craving for something sweet and refreshing:
- Water flavored with fruit slices
- Carbonated water
- Green tea
- White tea
- Fruit juice mixed with seltzer water
- Vegetable juice
- Herbal tea
[expand title=”References“]
Shorter Sleep Linked To Sugar-Sweetened Drink Consumption. URL Link. Accessed April 24, 2017.
Short and Sweet: Associations Between Self-Reported Sleep Duration and Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Consumption Among Adults In the United States. URL Link. Accessed April 24, 2017.
Why a Lack of Sleep Can Make You Fat, and How to Keep From Gaining Weight. URL Link. Accessed April 24, 2017.
9 Soda Alternatives. URL Link. Accessed April 24, 2017.
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