Sleep Disturbances and Sleep Apnea
Nighttime is generally colder than daytime, which is why the body temperature also fluctuates and goes down a bit during the night. This can cause a problem among patients with diabetic neuropathy since the damaged nerves might interpret the coldness as pain. This miscommunication among nerves may heighten the sense of neuropathy. And since neuropathic pain gets worse at night, it affects the sleep quality of patients.
Sleep disturbances are a common complication of diabetic neuropathy. One example is sleep apnea. It is a sleeping disorder that happens when breathing stops and repeatedly starts during sleep. As a result, patients may experience morning headaches, daytime sleepiness, dizziness, mood swings, and cognitive declines. A study shows that 63% of diabetes patients who later developed diabetic neuropathy also suffer from sleep apnea.
For people with severe diabetic neuropathy, even the soft touch of a blanket or bed sheet on their body is unbearable. The use of compression socks and other garments while sleeping is proven to help relieve some of the issues connected to diabetic neuropathy.
