5 Diabetes Symptoms That May Be More Noticeable at Night
Diabetes does not have symptoms that occur only at night, but some effects of high or low blood glucose can become particularly noticeable while you’re sleeping.
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Waking up repeatedly to urinate — High blood glucose can cause the kidneys to remove more glucose and water, increasing urination. This can lead to several nighttime bathroom trips.
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Excessive thirst or a dry mouth — Increased urination can cause fluid loss, leaving you unusually thirsty or waking with a dry mouth.
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Night sweats, shaking, or a racing heartbeat — In people taking insulin or certain glucose-lowering medicines, blood sugar can sometimes fall too low during the night.
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Restless or disrupted sleep — Frequent urination, thirst, sweating, or episodes of low blood sugar can repeatedly interrupt sleep.
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Tingling, burning, or pain in the feet — Diabetes-related nerve damage (diabetic neuropathy) can cause symptoms that become particularly bothersome at night.
Don’t assume these symptoms mean diabetes
Nighttime urination, dry mouth, sweating, and poor sleep have many possible causes. For example, medications, urinary problems, sleep apnea, menopause, dehydration, and other medical conditions can produce similar symptoms.
If you’re experiencing several of these symptoms repeatedly—especially increased thirst + frequent urination + unexplained weight loss or fatigue—ask a healthcare professional about testing your blood glucose and HbA1c. Many people with type 2 diabetes have few noticeable symptoms initially.
If you have diabetes and experience confusion, vomiting, severe weakness, difficulty breathing, or very high blood sugar, seek urgent medical care.
