Sometimes, we feel a bit tired during the day and take a nap. It’s normal to feel this way now and then, but when those naps become more frequent, you might want to consider seeing your healthcare provider. Research from Japan now suggests that long naps during the day might be an indicator of type 2 diabetes. Let’s take a closer look at the study’s findings and consider the critical role that checkups with your doctor matters.
A Potential Link Between Long Daytime Naps And Type 2 Diabetes
Several symptoms associated with type 2 diabetes should not be ignored. These symptoms are often not obvious, which means people often overlook them. A Japanese research report looked at observational studies conducted in the last few years. These studies provided the researchers with data related to over 300,000 individuals.
Following the review of these studies, the researchers found that type 2 diabetes was more common among people who took naps for more than one hour daily. Experts have also commented on the findings of the study, noting that people with undiagnosed type 2 diabetes seem to feel tired more often during the daytime. The experts explained that long-term illnesses also generally increase the need for long daily naps.
There are several potential reasons why people who have undiagnosed diabetes may require long naps during the day. One possible reason is the presence of sleep apnea among type 2 diabetes patients. If you have diabetes, you may experience sleep apnea, which can affect your sleep quality at night. In this case, you’ll feel tired the next day because your sleep was disturbed.
With this data in mind, it’s important to note that the researchers concluded that long daytime naps are not what causes type 2 diabetes. It also does not seem to raise the risk of diabetes. Instead, they serve as a warning sign that you may have undiagnosed diabetes. In addition to diabetes, long naps could be potential signs of other health conditions.
Identifying The Symptoms Of Type 2 Diabetes
It has now been established that naps that last longer than an hour during the daytime may be an early warning sign of type 2 diabetes. However, this is not the only symptom or warning sign you should be aware of. Understanding the signs of type 2 diabetes can help you detect the condition as early as possible.
Diabetes itself does not cause symptoms but rather fluctuating blood glucose levels. Your blood sugar may rise or fall, causing either hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia, which can lead to the development of certain symptoms.
Some of the symptoms that you may experience when you have hyperglycemia, a term that describes abnormally high blood sugar levels, include:
- Urination frequency tends to increase
- You may feel very thirsty
- Vision may become blurry
- Physical weakness can develop
- You may find that you have shortness of breath
Confusion can sometimes also occur when your blood sugar levels are very high. Dry mouth, headaches, and nausea are also potential symptoms.
On the other hand, glucose levels can also fall too low in people with type 2 diabetes. When this happens, you will experience symptoms associated with hypoglycemia. Here is an overview of the potential symptoms that hypoglycemia can cause:
- Pale skin
- Feeling shaky and irritable
- Anxiety symptoms
- Trouble concentrating
- Lightheadedness
- Fatigue and a tired feeling
- Nausea
- An increase in hunger
- Heartbeat may become irregular
Over time, excessive glucose in your blood causes damage to nerve fibers, blood vessels, and even to your organs. These can lead to additional symptoms due to the damage that the hyperglycemia has caused.
Heart disease, for example, is a common complication in people with type 2 diabetes. When you develop heart disease, you will start to experience additional symptoms. Chest pain, dizziness, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, and increased sweating are all symptoms of heart disease. There is also a greater risk of liver disease in diabetics, as well as other diseases.
Early Diagnosis Improves Treatment And Disease Outcome
As with other chronic diseases, the earlier you detect type 2 diabetes, the better. This helps to ensure treatment can start without any delays. Treatment for type 2 diabetes at an early stage helps to improve blood glucose control to reduce the damaging effects that hyperglycemia can have on your body.
When you take long naps or experience some of the other symptoms we discussed, you must make an appointment with your doctor. Talk to them about your symptoms and get your blood glucose levels tested. An A1C test can provide more data regarding your blood glucose control over a period of time, which becomes essential data when managing diabetes.
If your doctor diagnoses you with type 2 diabetes, the first line treatment they will use generally consists of Metformin. The medication reduces the rate at which sugar absorbs from your intestines. It’s not a sole treatment, however, as you’ll need to make specific lifestyle changes to your diet and exercise regimen. This is because Metformin is used alongside exercise and diet to bring blood glucose levels under control. Other medications are also available and will usually be explored if Metformin and these lifestyle changes fail to provide a practical approach to managing your diabetes.
Your doctor may also do tests to determine if you have insulin-dependent type 2 diabetes. In this case, you’ll need to use insulin as a treatment for your type 2 diabetes.
Bottom Line
While long daytime naps won’t necessarily increase your risk of type 2 diabetes, it could be a warning sign of the disease. Researchers suggest you should not ignore the need to take long naps during the day. Early diagnosis of type 2 diabetes ensures treatment can be started before the condition leads to serious complications in your body.