Dec 27 2007

Suggestions Please - on Alcohol, Sugar and Insomnia

Published by Jonni at 11:32 am under Sugar Addiction

I received an email this morning from James, who asked for some suggestions to help him with his insomnia. His sleep patterns are disturbed when he drinks alcohol. The only answer I came up with wasn’t very helpful, so he gave me permission to post his email here on my blog. If you have a good answer for James’ question, please post your comments.
Here’s his email:

Hi

I’ve just read your article here: http://www.insomnia-connection.com/wake-up-article.html and it made loads and loads of sense to me. I’ve been struggling for ages to try to come up with a reason as to why I have a strange reaction to alcohol - I’ll fall asleep easily after a few drinks, then I’ll wake up really early in the morning (say 3.30 or 4am) with my heart beating faster than usual. I then won’t be able to get back to sleep and I’ll feel really sluggish and irritable during the day.

I’ve had tests done at the doctor’s and nothing untoward has shown up in the results.

Am I right in thinking that drinking alcohol has lots of sugar in it, which the body then tries to get rid of using glucose, then it’s the corresponding lack of glucose that causes problems?

Thing is though, what can I do about it? Diabetes does run in my family but I know I’m not diabetic, but could I be slightly more sensitive to too much alcohol/sugar and a lack of glucose for some related reason? Should I have a glucose drink when I wake up in the middle of the night or something?

Anyway any help you could give would be greatly appreciated.

Happy Christmas by the way!

Many thanks,
James

One Response to “Suggestions Please - on Alcohol, Sugar and Insomnia”

  1. # Jonnion 27 Dec 2007 at 11:34 am

    James sent a second email with this additional information about his sleep problem:

    “Incidentally I also get a similar problem after heavy exercise. I feel really relaxed at first, then sleepy, then I’ll get to sleep easily and then wake up very early and I won’t be able to get back to sleep again. I’ll feel irritable and sluggish during not just the next day but the following three or four after that as well. I’m sure the problems are related.

    “Anyway it would be good if you could post that bit on your blog too; you never know, there may be someone out there that could help.

    “Anyway thanks for taking the time to respond, and for your offer of help,
    James”

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