This Is How Many Hours Of Lost Sleep It Takes To Negatively Affect Blood Sugar, According To Science

by Ellen Vora, MD on Jul 22, 2019 / Share

Originally published in mindbodygreen

According to a new study published in the American Journal of Physiology—Endocrinology and Metabolism, losing just six hours of sleep may have an adverse effect on metabolism, including an increased risk for diabetes.

Here are a a few tips on how to improve the quality of your sleep if losing it is out of your control. (Of course, talk to your doctor before making any lifestyle changes, especially if you have any outstanding health issues.)

Get the phone out of your bedroom.
Go to bed earlier—think 10:00 p.m.
Try supplementing with magnesium glycinate.
Take an Epsom salt bath.
Stabilize your blood sugar by avoiding sugar, refined carbohydrates and alcohol and getting plenty of healthy fats and protein.

About the Author Ellen Vora, MD

Ellen Vora, M.D., is a holistic psychiatrist practicing with Frank Lipman, M.D., at the Eleven Eleven Wellness Center in NYC. "I take a functional medicine approach to mental health, which is a root-cause approach to understanding and treating illness."