Stay Well Central

Sleep has a very important affect on weight. During sleep, the body produces a hormone called Leptin that tells your body it is full. With too little sleep, not enough Leptin is produced and the person continues to want to eat more. Another hormone called Ghrelin also increases with too little sleep. Ghrelin makes the stomach feel hunger. These are two ways that too little sleep increase your appetite and lead to increased weight.

According to the American Diabetes Association, here are some of the most common symptoms of diabetes:
For Type 1 Diabetes:

• Frequent urination
• Unusually thirsty
• Extreme hunger
• Unusual weight loss
• Extremely tired and irritable

The Symptoms of Type 2 Diabetes are

• Any of the Type 1 symptoms
• Frequent infections
• Blurred vision
• Cuts/bruises heal slowly
• Recurring skin, gum, or bladder infections
• Some people with Type 2 diabetes have no symptoms

Diabetes is very common in the United States. Over 18 million people have been diagnosed with diabetes and it is believed another 7 million people don’t yet realize they have it. There are another 79 million people have prediabetes. That means their blood sugar is higher than normal but not yet high enough to be called diabetes. Many people who are prediabetic are overweight. If you are overweight, ask your doctor to check your fasting blood sugar level. That means your blood test is taken in the morning before you eat breakfast.

There are several types of diabetes:

Type 1 diabetes usually begins before age 18 and happens when the body completely stops making insulin, the hormone that allows the body to use sugar for energy; and

Type 2 diabetes is much more common and usually starts in adults. In Type 2 diabetes the body doesn’t make enough insulin for the body to properly use the sugar we eat.

Gestational Diabetes: Diabetes that happens only when a woman is pregnant. Women who have gestational diabetes are more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes later in their lives.

Stress is a major problem and causes about 85% of all visits to primary care doctors. People who are stressed often feel tired, worried, depressed or anxious. Here are some simple tips that can help reduce your stress:

• Be sure to get enough sleep
• Find a quiet place and take some slow deep breathes for 1 to 3 minutes
• Take a brief walk (15 to 20 minutes) during the day
• Take a hot bath or shower to relax your muscles
• Spend 5 minutes and do some simple stretching exercises
• Listen to some relaxing music
• Do yoga or meditation
• Get a massage
• Make social time part of your day

If stress seems to be part of your life everyday, it can be very helpful to talk with a mental health professional.