Summary: Blood sugar patterns and dietary choices play a significant role in how well adults sleep. Individuals with diabetes were more likely to experience sleep disorders, poor sleep quality, and irregular sleep duration, with people who have prediabetes showing similar but milder trends. The study also found that strict diabetes control and intense dietary restriction were associated with more sleep difficulties.
Low-protein, high-fat eating patterns were consistently linked to poor sleep, while low-carb, high-fat diets were tied to reduced short sleep, regardless of blood-sugar status. The findings highlight the need to integrate dietary strategies with sleep-health recommendations.
Key Facts
- Diabetes & Sleep: People with diabetes showed higher rates of sleep problems and abnormal sleep duration compared to those without diabetes.
- Diet-Sleep Link: Low-protein, high-fat diets were most consistently associated with poor sleep quality across groups.
- Blood Sugar Influence: Both glucose patterns and dietary choices shaped sleep outcomes, suggesting an overlooked pathway for improving rest.
Source: George Mason University
The average adult should get a minimum of seven hours of sleep daily, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations.
An estimated 50 to 70 million Americans are diagnosed with a sleep disorder (ex., sleep apnea, insomnia) that prevents optimal sleep outcomes, 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 individuals with or without diabetes—are linked to sleep quality.
The research found that blood glucose patterns, diabetes management, and the types of foods people eat all were associated with how well they sleep:
- Individuals with diabetes were more likely to have trouble sleeping, be diagnosed with sleep disorders, and have abnormal sleep duration compared to individuals without diabetes. Those with prediabetes showed similar patterns, but not as strongly.
- Strict dietary management and diabetes control were associated with more sleep difficulties, suggesting that blood-sugar status and the types of foods you eat may play important roles in how well you 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-carb, high-fat diets were associated with a lower likelihood of short sleep duration in both people with diabetes and those with normal blood sugar.
Basiri’s research highlights the importance of considering both dietary patterns and blood sugar status when developing strategies to improve sleep.
Key Questions Answered:
A: Fluctuations in blood glucose were strongly linked to sleep problems, with individuals experiencing disrupted glucose patterns reporting more sleep disturbances and irregular sleep duration. This pattern was especially pronounced in individuals with diabetes.
A: Low-protein, high-fat diets were consistently tied to poorer sleep outcomes across participants, regardless of diabetes status. These patterns were linked to reduced sleep quality and more sleep complaints.
A: Yes. Low-carb, high-fat diets were associated with a lower likelihood of short sleepduration in both individuals with diabetes and those with normal glucose levels. This suggests that macronutrient balance may help support healthier sleep.
Editorial Notes:
- This article was edited by a Neuroscience News editor.
- Journal paper reviewed in full.
- Additional context added by our staff.
About this diet and sleep research news
Author: Mary Cunningham
Source: George Mason University
Contact: Mary Cunningham – George Mason University
Image: The image is credited to Neuroscience News
Original Research: Open access.
“Glycemic status and macronutrient intake as predictors of sleep outcomes: an analysis of NHANES 2007–2020 data” 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 of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).
Methods: Sleep and dietary variables, including sleep duration (short/normal/extended), trouble sleeping, diagnosed sleep disorder, and macronutrient intake, were obtained from the cross-sectional US NHANES 2007–2020. 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 trouble sleeping (OR: 1.37; 95% CI: 1.23–1.53) compared to those with normoglycemia. They also showed abnormal sleep durations, with 21% higher odds of short sleep (95% CI: 1.08–1.35) and 37% higher odds of extended sleep (95% CI: 1.12–1.66).
Among participants with diabetes, maintaining HbA₁c < 6.5% was associated with 27% higher odds of trouble sleeping (95% CI: 1.05–1.54) versus those with 6.5% ≤ HbA₁c < 9.0%. Macronutrient distribution was differently associated with sleep across glycemic statuses.
In individuals 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 short sleep duration (OR: 0.78; 95% CI: 0.62–0.98).
Among individuals with prediabetes, low-protein diets, particularly when combined with high fat intake, were associated with approximately 2- to 3-fold higher odds of extended sleep duration (OR: 2.04; 95% CI: 1.02–4.08; OR: 2.88; 95% CI: 1.30–6.36). In normoglycemic individuals, similar macronutrient energy distribution patterns were associated with both short and long sleep duration, compared with balanced diets.
Conclusion: These findings highlight the importance of considering glycemic status and diet in relation to sleep. This study adds to growing evidence that metabolic health and nutrition influence sleep and may guide future interventions to improve sleep through targeted dietary strategies.
