Type 2 Diabetes Symptoms May Include Feeling Drowsy During Daytime

Type 2 diabetes is characterized by the inability of the pancreas to produce a sufficient amount of functioning insulin. A vital hormone, Insulin is needed by the cells to absorb glucose from the blood and transform it into energy.

The main problem with diabetes is its lack of symptoms during the early stages. This causes people to go on with their daily lives, unaware they already have the condition. There is one warning sign, however, that should prompt you to consult with your doctor.

A Daytime Habit

It is normal for people to feel drowsy during the daytime if they were unable to sleep or lacked sleep the night before. If they have a sufficient amount of sleep yet somehow felt the need to sleep during the daytime, it may be indicative of the development of the ailment.

A study on this daytime habit and its relationship to diabetes was conducted by Professor Maurice Ohayon, a psychiatrist based at Stanford University in California. Involving 11,000 participants, Dr. Ohayon and his team interviewed them twice over the telephone three years apart. Around 30% of the participants were 65 years old and above.

Dr. Ohayon’s Findings

The professor and his team of researchers found that those who catnapped during daytime were more than twice as disposed to the condition. Their findings also revealed that participants who napped during daytime were at a 2.3% risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

According to Dr. Ohayon, their findings were based on the fact that of the 840 people who said they felt drowsy during the first interview, 6.2% developed diabetes. Researchers said that giving attention to the daytime sleep habits of older adults could help provide doctors with an insight into their health condition. It could also help medical professionals predict, and perhaps prevent, the development of more serious health conditions in the future.

Daytime Sleepiness

Feeling drowsy throughout the day, even after enjoying seven or more hours of quality sleep the night before, is called hypersomnolence. This medical term is used to describe excessive daytime sleepiness. According to health professionals, it can be used to predict the development of type 2 diabetes.

Hypersomnolence occurs when the cells in your body are unable to absorb sugar from your blood. This blood sugar is created from the foods you consume. When this happens, your cells will not have the energy resources that will help your body to function properly. As your blood glucose levels continue to rise, it will wreak havoc on the rest of your body.