Diabetic peculiarities or what???

[PurpleSwan3033]

Can anyone help me understand what is going on with me and my cpap therapy in regards to these particulars? I am a diabetic . I have had many sleep issues since starting my cpap therapy six months ago. These issues have mostly centered around continuing to wake up many times and not sleeping through the night. Sometimes, I was waking up every 90 minutes or so. I started waking up a significantly less number of times around the 4 months mark. Now, at the six months mark, I notice that if I can manage not to eat within 3 or 4 hours of going to bed, I sleep longer and may only get up once during the night. However, if I eat too close to going to bed, I wake up several times during the night, about every 90 minutes or so. Also, when I am waking up every 90 minutes or so, struggling to sleep, I also recall unpleasant dreams where I am struggling with some problem or another. When I am sleeping okay, only getting up once, about 3 - 4 hours after falling asleep, I recall pleasant dreams where I am not struggle with anything or anyone. Am I experiencing some kind of diabetic peculiarities related to elevated sugar levels? (At least I know now how to sleep longer and better, although it is very, very difficult to eat my last meal that long before bedtime on a regular basis.) The good thing is that I have gotten through the masks problems, the pressure sores problems, etc., and arrived at this point, so, I am making noticeable progress.

[BlackSpinner]

Also, when I am waking up every 90 minutes or so, struggling to sleep, I also recall unpleasant dreams where I am struggling with some problem or another.

Your REM cycle is about 90 minutes. REM dreams are mostly about lifes struggles - kind of like debugging your issues and learning from them. So this is a positive sign - you are dreaming important dreams, Congratulations. Non REM dreams are happy feel good dreams.
check out : http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/dreams/

I notice that if I can manage not to eat within 3 or 4 hours of going to bed, I sleep longer

Digestion requires energy, also it changes your insulin levels depending on what you ate, plus digestion while sleeping is different too. That is why weight loss books tell you not to eat after 7pm, it seems to be more efficiently turned to fat. All that can affect your sleep.

[Julie]

One very common problem with OSA is that likely the majority of us have GERD (acid reflux), and the fact that you have less trouble when not eating close to bedtime may show that you also have it. Whether or not you can stay away from things like coffee, and spicy or acidic food altogether is up to you, but it could be worth trying (though I know you're already on a special diet which could make it harder), as would taking a TUMS before bed, or a PPI (long lasting acid reducing drug).

[JeffH]

What are your blood sugar numbers like? High blood sugar (as in eating too late) can effect sleep.

JeffH

[kteague]

Our circadian rhythm is tied into our eating patterns, and food intake is associated with the wake period of our circadian rhythm. Late eating sends signals contradictory to our usual pattern of sleep and processing of food. How much that would cause periodic wakefulness, I don't know.

[Muse-Inc]

A protein & fat snack within 30 mins of maskup/sleep meant I got sleep much, much better with fewer wakeups for many months. Then, things changes (ahh, life) and now I need a little carb to get good sleep so I typically have a 1 oz part-skim Mozzarella stick with 3 grapes (or 5 raspberries, 3 blueberries, 1 lg strawberry) to have the same good effect. My 2 diabetic friends do the same as I am doing now and get their best sleep and lowest fasting glucose readings sionce adopting this practice -- might try this and see if you have the same good effect. All of us eat low carb.

[torontoCPAPguy]

I went to a talk by a specialist on liver function and drug interactions last week at rehab and whoooooooa! This thing is complicated. So much so that the Government of Ontario provides a service through the licensed pharmacists in the province called "????????????????" whereby you can get a 30 minute consultation with any pharmacist of your choice every six months and the government will pay for it. For optimum benefit you need to tell your GP you are going to do this and have him requisition a full set of blood work prior to the consultation.

I have discovered that the introduction of my CPAP machine into my lifestyle along with virtual elimination of narcotic painkillers in favour of Tylenol has screwed up my system royally. My blood sugars have risen; my blood pressure has plummeted and all sorts of other wonderful things. They have changed me from Metformin to Januet for my diabetes (talk about expensive); and have changed my BP medication as well but it looks like it is probably going to have to be eliminated as I am suffering with low BP now.

Just be aware that drug interaction and kidney function are ALL interactive, especially where your diabetes is concerned. Even taking Tylenol a couple of times a day can mess things up in your liver, which is the great stirring pot and factory where the drugs and nutrients are all processed.

If you are having issues with blood sugar especially regards stability of same I would run (not walk) to my endocronologist for a consult asap. Diabetes is NOT something to be taken lightly even if YOU think it might be nominally under control. Diabetes kills.... generally slowly. Its damage is not reversable for the most part and it will take your circulation (and body parts), your liver, kidneys and heart and so on. Please don't mess with it.

I am waiting to see if diet and Janumet stabilize my blood sugar else I am going onto insulin with a sliding scale, which I took while in hospital this past summer. It was amazing and controlled blood sugar precisely.... but I have a thing about needles. My wife was on gobs of insulin, lost 150 pouds, and is now taking zip for diabetes with sugar under control.

[BlackSpinner]

On a somewhat lighter side - Coffee - I can now only drink at most 3 cups and never after 1pm. Any coffee after that and I am wired until 1 am. I used to drink more then that and any time until 5pm was ok.

[grady61]

I went to a talk by a specialist on liver function and drug interactions last week at rehab and whoooooooa! This thing is complicated. So much so that the Government of Ontario provides a service through the licensed pharmacists in the province called "????????????????" whereby you can get a 30 minute consultation with any pharmacist of your choice every six months and the government will pay for it. For optimum benefit you need to tell your GP you are going to do this and have him requisition a full set of blood work prior to the consultation.

I have discovered that the introduction of my CPAP machine into my lifestyle along with virtual elimination of narcotic painkillers in favour of Tylenol has screwed up my system royally. My blood sugars have risen; my blood pressure has plummeted and all sorts of other wonderful things. They have changed me from Metformin to Januet for my diabetes (talk about expensive); and have changed my BP medication as well but it looks like it is probably going to have to be eliminated as I am suffering with low BP now.

Just be aware that drug interaction and kidney function are ALL interactive, especially where your diabetes is concerned. Even taking Tylenol a couple of times a day can mess things up in your liver, which is the great stirring pot and factory where the drugs and nutrients are all processed.

If you are having issues with blood sugar especially regards stability of same I would run (not walk) to my endocronologist for a consult asap. Diabetes is NOT something to be taken lightly even if YOU think it might be nominally under control. Diabetes kills.... generally slowly. Its damage is not reversable for the most part and it will take your circulation (and body parts), your liver, kidneys and heart and so on. Please don't mess with it.

I am waiting to see if diet and Janumet stabilize my blood sugar else I am going onto insulin with a sliding scale, which I took while in hospital this past summer. It was amazing and controlled blood sugar precisely.... but I have a thing about needles. My wife was on gobs of insulin, lost 150 pouds, and is now taking zip for diabetes with sugar under control.

[JohnBFisher]

... A protein & fat snack ... now I need a little carb to get good sleep ...

Like Muse, I find that my need changes from time to time. No food before sleep tends to make for bad sleep. Too much before sleep tends to make for bad sleep. Sometimes LOTS of carbs has no impact, and even seems to make sleep better. Sometimes, any carbs makes it worse. It's fun to try to figure this out!

But it is VERY normal for blood glucose to mangle your sleep. Try to find what works for you and see if a pattern emerges. Just realize that it will change (as you've seen) as your body adjusts to more sleep.

Best wishes as you move forward with your combined therapies.