Diabetes can sometimes develop gradually, and many people do not realize that their blood sugar is higher than it should be. While some symptoms can occur at any time of day, certain warning signs may become particularly noticeable at night. Paying attention to unusual nighttime changes can encourage you to seek appropriate testing, including a blood glucose test or HbA1c test, when necessary.
Here are nine nighttime signs that may be associated with diabetes or high blood sugar.
1. Waking Up Frequently to Urinate
One of the most noticeable nighttime symptoms can be waking up repeatedly to use the bathroom.
When blood glucose becomes too high, the kidneys may work to remove excess glucose through urine. This can increase urine production and lead to frequent urination, including during the night.
However, nighttime urination is not specific to diabetes. Drinking a lot of fluids before bed, caffeine, certain medications, prostate problems, kidney disease, and other conditions can also cause it.
If you regularly wake up several times every night to urinate, especially when this is accompanied by increased thirst, it is worth discussing with a healthcare professional.
2. Intense Thirst During the Night
Another possible warning sign is waking up feeling unusually thirsty or having a very dry mouth.
When the body loses more fluid through frequent urination, you may become dehydrated and feel the need to drink more water. This can create a cycle in which you drink more, urinate more, and wake up again during the night.
Persistent excessive thirst should not automatically be attributed to diabetes, but when it occurs together with frequent urination, fatigue, unexplained weight changes, or blurred vision, checking your blood sugar may be appropriate.
3. Night Sweats
Waking up with your clothes or bedding unusually damp from sweating can have many possible causes.
For people who already take insulin or certain diabetes medications, nighttime sweating can sometimes occur when blood sugar drops too low during sleep. Low blood sugar may also cause shakiness, hunger, a rapid heartbeat, confusion, or nightmares.
Night sweats alone do not mean you have diabetes. Hormonal changes, infections, medications, alcohol, anxiety, and other conditions can also cause them.
If you have diabetes and repeatedly wake up sweating, particularly if you also experience symptoms of low blood sugar, discuss the pattern with your healthcare professional.
4. Restless or Uncomfortable Legs
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