When blood sugar is too low, a person may feel tired, fatigued, irritable, and have a slow reaction time. Research has also found that low blood sugar can strike during sleep, causing people to wake up from nightmares screaming, sweating all over, and struggling to fall back asleep.
Why is low blood sugar related to having nightmares?
Experimental research has confirmed that during sleep, the human body alternates between two forms: fast-wave sleep and slow-wave sleep. Fast-wave sleep is also known as "dream sleep," and this is when dreaming occurs. Studies have shown that during fast-wave sleep, a person's neural excitement increases, and protein synthesis in the brain accelerates. When blood sugar is low, the brain's energy supply is insufficient, protein synthesis is blocked, which can lead to prolonged fast-wave sleep. At this time, neural excitability increases, and nightmares are more likely to occur. Conversely, when blood sugar is normal, during the sleep process, protein synthesis, metabolism, and energy supply are in a normal physiological state. Fast-wave and slow-wave sleep alternate in an orderly manner, and the nervous system is not over-excited, so nightmares are less likely to occur.
Carbohydrate foods can correct low blood sugar. If you often have nightmares, you might try eating a few slices of bread or two small cookies before bed, or drinking a glass of sugar-added milk. This may be helpful for reducing nightmares and improving your sleep quality.
It is worth mentioning that some diabetics have difficulty falling asleep and also have frequent nightmares (a point that is often overlooked). This is often related to the fact that diabetics are prone to low blood sugar. Therefore, when a patient frequently experiences low blood sugar at night, it may be advisable to adjust their medication or have a small snack before bed. Of course, these measures should ideally be carried out under a doctor's guidance.