Summary: Blood sugar patterns and dietary choices play an important role in sleep in adults. People with diabetes were more likely to experience sleep disorders, poor sleep quality, and irregular sleep duration, and people with prediabetes showed similar but milder trends. The study also found that tight diabetes control and severe dietary restriction were associated with more sleep difficulties.
Low-protein, high-fat eating patterns were consistently associated with poor sleep, while low-carbohydrate, high-fat diets were associated with reduced hours of short sleep, regardless of blood sugar. The findings highlight the need to integrate dietary strategies with recommendations for sleep health.
Key facts
Diabetes and sleep: People with diabetes showed higher rates of sleep problems and abnormal sleep duration compared to those without diabetes. Link between diet and sleep: Low-protein, high-fat diets were most consistently associated with poor sleep quality across all groups. Influence of blood sugar: Both glucose patterns and dietary choices influenced sleep outcomes, suggesting an overlooked pathway to improving rest.
Source: George Mason University
The average adult should sleep a minimum of seven hours a day, according to recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
An estimated 50 to 70 million Americans are diagnosed with a sleep disorder (e.g., sleep apnea, insomnia) that prevents optimal sleep results, and what we eat may play a role.
A study by registered dietitian and clinical nutrition researcher Raedeh Basiri showed that blood sugar levels, whether in people with or without diabetes, are related to sleep quality.
The research found that blood glucose patterns, diabetes control, and the types of foods people eat were associated with how well they sleep:
People with diabetes were more likely to have sleep problems, be diagnosed with sleep disorders, and have abnormal sleep duration compared to people without diabetes. Those with prediabetes showed similar patterns, but not as strong. Strict dietary control and diabetes control were associated with more sleep difficulties, suggesting that blood sugar level and the types of foods consumed may play important roles in sleep. Low protein diets, especially when combined with high fat intake, were most consistently linked to poor sleep across the board. On the other hand, low-carbohydrate, high-fat diets were associated with a lower likelihood of short sleep in both people with diabetes and those with normal blood sugar levels.
Basiri’s research highlights the importance of considering both dietary patterns and blood sugar when developing strategies to improve sleep.
Key questions answered:
A: Fluctuations in blood glucose were strongly related to sleep problems, and people who experienced altered glucose patterns reported more sleep disturbances and irregular sleep duration. This pattern was especially pronounced in people with diabetes.
A: Low-protein, high-fat diets were consistently associated with worse sleep outcomes in all participants, regardless of diabetes status. These patterns were associated with reduced sleep quality and more sleep complaints.
A: Yes. Low-carbohydrate, high-fat diets were associated with a lower likelihood of short sleep duration in both people with diabetes and those with normal glucose levels. This suggests that macronutrient balance may help promote healthier sleep.
Editorial notes:
This article was edited by a Neuroscience News editor. Magazine article reviewed in its entirety. Additional context added by our staff.
About this news on diet and sleep research
Author: Maria Cunningham
Source: George Mason University
Contact: Mary Cunningham – George Mason University
Image: Image is credited to Neuroscience News.
Original research: Open access.
“Glycemic status and macronutrient intake as predictors of sleep outcomes: an analysis of NHANES data 2007-2020” by Raedeh Basiri et al. Frontiers in nutrition
Abstract
Glycemic Status and Macronutrient Intake as Predictors of Sleep Outcomes: An Analysis of NHANES 2007-2020 Data
Background: Emerging evidence suggests that glycemic status and dietary intake are associated with sleep duration and quality.
Objective: To examine associations between glycemic status, diabetes control, macronutrient energy distribution, and sleep outcomes among participants in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).
Methods: Diet and sleep variables, including sleep duration (short/normal/long), sleep problems, diagnosed sleep disorder, and macronutrient intake, were obtained from the 2007-2020 US NHANES cross-sectional study. Glycemic status was defined by self-reported diabetes history and measured HbA₁c.
Multivariable-adjusted multinomial logistic regression models were used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for sleep outcomes associated with glycemic status, diabetes control, and macronutrient intake.
Results: Individuals with diabetes were more likely to have sleep disorders (OR: 1.61; 95% CI: 1.34–1.93) and sleep problems (OR: 1.37; 95% CI: 1.23–1.53) compared to those with normoglycemia. They also showed abnormal sleep durations, with 21% more likely to have short sleep (95% CI: 1.08-1.35) and 37% more likely to have long sleep (95% CI: 1.12-1.66).
Among participants with diabetes, maintaining HbA₁c < 6.5% was associated with a 27% higher odds of having sleep problems (95% CI: 1.05–1.54) compared to those with 6.5% ≤ HbA₁c < 9.0%. Macronutrient distribution was differentially associated with sleep depending on glycemic states.
In people with diabetes, low protein intake was associated with higher odds of sleep disorder diagnosis (OR: 2.43, 95% CI: 1.06–5.61). A low-carbohydrate, high-fat intake was associated with lower odds of having short sleep duration (OR: 0.78; 95% CI: 0.62 to 0.98).
Among people with prediabetes, low-protein diets, particularly when combined with high fat intake, were associated with approximately 2 to 3 times the odds of prolonged sleep duration (OR: 2.04; 95% CI: 1.02 to 4.08; OR: 2.88; 95% CI: 1.30 to 6.36). In normoglycemic individuals, similar patterns of macronutrient energy distribution were associated with both short and long sleep duration compared to balanced diets.
Conclusion: These findings highlight the importance of considering glycemic status and diet in relation to sleep. This study adds to the growing evidence that metabolic health and nutrition influence sleep and may guide future interventions to improve sleep through specific dietary strategies.
