Lack of sleep does open doors to various health issues in general. There are chances for you to be aware of the statement; but do you know that a disturbing cycle of sleep can lead to diabetes? Now, the complication does not stop here. Diabetes increases the chances of heart attack and stroke. This is a scientific fact that has a lot of researches and authentic surveys to back it up.
The super-busy lifestyle of the day contributes a huge share to the lack of proper sleep in people and nobody can possibly deny it. You keep running behind something or the other and in turn, you do not provide your body and mind with sufficient rest. Another major reason for sleep deprivation is the overuse of gadgets like mobile phones and computers especially late at night. Yes, the blue light from the gadgets keeps you awake for hours together with no matter what the time is. Recent researches claim that sleep deprivation may cause diabetes leading to cardiac problems.
Diabetes- What Is It?
Diabetes is a medical condition where there is an imbalance in the production of insulin in your body. It falls into two broader categories such as type 1 diabetes (damage of pancreas cells) and type-2 diabetes (less or no insulin production). Of the two, the latter is quite common. In any case, diabetes paves the way to the rise of glucose levels in the body. Some of the major symptoms of diabetes are frequent urination, excessive hunger, slow healing of wounds, and itchy skin. If detected with diabetes, you can take medical assistance to keep the glucose level under check but there is no cure for it.
Sleep Deprivation Vs. Diabetes
You will have sleep in abundance when you are young but then, it becomes luxury with the advancement of age. However, any adult requires sound sleep for six hours (minimum) a day to stay healthy. One of the major health issues that the lack of proper sleep triggers is the reduction in metabolism. When the rate of metabolism slows down, there is naturally an increase in the glucose level of the body. Now, that certainly denotes that you are diabetic. You may alter your diet or even eat less to keep the blood sugar level under control. But if the seed of the problem lies in the amount of sleep you get every night, you have to set it right in the first place.
Another issue that you cannot possibly overlook in case of diabetes is obesity or excessive weight gain. Come on! It is not just about you getting out of shape and not being able to put on your favorite pair of pencil jeans. Understand that it is a serious health concern so that you shall be careful about it in the days to come. Again, the reason behind obesity is the disturbance in the body’s metabolism cycle. With improper metabolism, there are increased chances for accumulation of fat cells in the body resulting in obesity.
Diabetes and Heart Disease
As said, diabetes leads to the increase of blood sugar level in the individual concerned. With high glucose levels, the coronary arteries that send blood to the heart tend to become harder (termed atherosclerosis). With this, cholesterol plaque builds up in the blood vessels that supply oxygen to the heart. When the cholesterol plaque breaks up, the body sends platelets to seal it. Since the artery is considerably small, there are possibilities for the platelets to block the blood flow thereby stopping the supply of oxygen to the heart. In such a case, a cardiac attack occurs.
The body does show signs before the event and it is only that we fail to notice them. Some of the early signs of cardiac attack include dizziness, short breath, Nausea, and pain in the left arm, shoulders, and chest. In severe cases, people with diabetes are at an increased risk of cardiac failure where the heart loses its ability to pump blood. This may cause also result in fluid retention in lungs and other body organs and results in swelling as well.
The prevention of blood flow may take place at any artery of the body. If the oxygen flow to the brain stops, for instance, it may lead to stroke, limiting the movements of the limbs. Similarly, the lack of blood flow to the arms and legs may result in peripheral vascular disease.
Other Complications
As per the researchers, the health condition of a diabetic patient is similar to someone who has had a heart attack already. Apart from diabetes, there are also other issues that contribute to cardiovascular diseases. Some are high blood pressure, excess cholesterol, and smoking. Heart disease coupled with one of these issues is a grave condition that needs utmost attention and care.
If you aim to keep diabetes at bay, here is what you need to do. Eat more fiber-rich vegetables and fruits, take time for physical exercise, quit smoking, and maintain blood pressure at 120/ 80.
Vivek is a writing enthusiast fond of healthy and happy living. He believes Knowledge gets better when shared. So he founded The Mindful Bytes as a platform for people who love to read and write anything that has to do with Health, Tech, Business, Finance, and Lifestyle.
