The role of sleep and human growth hormone in diabetes

[CamillaC]

Reading a section in 'Protein Power' by Drs Michael and Mary Eades I was fascinated to learn about human growth factor and how it is released when we get good quality sleep. Exercise also helps to make it available to us. Its effects are so beneficial. Does anyone know more about this and how it can help us to control diabetes really well?

All I have ever heard about it is that Hollywood stars often inject themselves with it! I would assume that that is not sensible but they must know something we don't. It has been called the Elixir of Life by some and is responsible for keeping humans young looking and in good order. I presume it plays a role in repair and maintenance of the body.

I have found out very recently that getting good quality really relaxed deep sleep is incredibly effective in achieving an optimal blood sugar balance. I mean it is logic that sleep does us good and is essential but I have heard it is even more crucial in diabetics. I did read about research which showed that even a short period of sleep deprivation actually raised blood sugar levels in healthy non-diabetic volunteers. That indicates just what a central role it can play in the treatment of diabetes. So simple and yet so important.

[sedge]

Body repairs itself while we sleep, esp the brain.  I think as I get older, I could do with the latter more than ever!

You'd be amazed how much insulin your cells need overnight Camilla - often quite a bit more than during the day!  That's summat you find out about when you are T1 !

[Trinkwasser]

There's a sort of two-way relationship, as with so many other things. Sleep apnea can worsen diabetes and diabetes can worsen sleep apnea, for example. It's a case of trying to gey everything into normal range, which helps get everything else into normal range . . .

[CamillaC]

There's a sort of two-way relationship, as with so many other things. Sleep apnea can worsen diabetes and diabetes can worsen sleep apnea, for example. It's a case of trying to gey everything into normal range, which helps get everything else into normal range . . .

Indeed it is about balancing the body, allowing it to find the natural healthy balance in all things. I have been silly for weeks lately by going to bed very late and only when I am dropping from fatigue. It is because I love reading and I cannot bear to put the book down and put the light off. So from now on I will put lights out at 11pm or earlier.

Sleep apnea is a condition I don't know much about, is it when someone falls asleep at odd times during the day?

[sedge]

No - that's narcolepsy!

Apnoea is when you wake up multiple times a night; you do this cos you stop breathing so you are starved of oxygen unless you wake up.  And permanently deprived of sleep.

[pete1140]

hi
I have both sleep apnea and diabetes
sleep apnea never actually woke me up but i did stop breathing through night ( a lot ) and snore which was a worry for mrs, luckily is now being treated as i wear a mask that forces air in to ensure my airways stay open and dont get blocked as i relax. Mrs a lot happier as no more snoring or stop breathing so we bothsleep better. It is quite noticable how much change it has made.
Just wish D was as easy lol but getting there

[Venomous]

When I was at school a friend of mine was taking human growth hormone. Her Dad was a doc in private practice, I don't think I've ever heard of anyone else having it. I assumed it was to make her taller (and it might have been, what do I know!) and I remember I was jealous as she was a good 4 inches taller than me lol

[Trinkwasser]

It's another thing that has a J curve, too much causes gigantism.

It must have been lacking in the past, there are some cottages around these parts with doors so tiny the population can't have been much over 5 feet tall.

[Pattidevans]

I can sleep like a baby if I don't have to get up for work... so 4 nights per week I have relaxing sleep.  The last of the 4 is Sunday night and though I don't have to get up for a 9am start I do go to work for 1pm, it's not as good or beneficial as the other 3.  Monday/Tue/Wed night I increasingly get screwed up about getting up for work.

[nytquill17]

Ugh, Patti, I'm like that.  If I know I have to be up for something later, especially if it's something I'm worried about or dreading I sleep so fitfully, start awake thinking surely I've missed my alarm...no, it's 4 a.m., plenty of time left...only to do it again in a half hour or so!

[Pattidevans]

Nyt... glad it's not just me.  I can nearly set the clock by when I wake and once I wake I will  go to the bathroom whether I need to or not.  The first time will be 2.30 am and depending on the time I went to bed (i.e. before 11pm) I will think, how restful, nice, lots of time till I have to get up at 7 am.  The next time will be 4.30 am and I will think "ahhhh, OK it's a fair while till I get up" and if I have to wake at 6am onwards that's the end of sleep!  Cos I shall just lay stiff and worrying about getting up.

[Keith]

In our house, the alarm clock face is turned away from us. If either does wake in the night we don't lie there thinking "it's x o'clock, only y hours left," we think "don't know the time, but the alarm's not gone, I'll go back to sleep"

May be worth a try.