Jul 1, 2026

Living Well with Diabetes Newsletter | July 2026

Posted By Palm Beach Diabetes and Endocrine Specialists PA

Better Sleep, Better Blood Sugars

By: Jessica Hrdlicka MS, RD, LD/N, CDCES

Getting enough good-quality sleep is one of the most important things you can do to help manage diabetes. Sleep affects how your body uses insulin, controls blood sugar, and regulates hunger as well as energy.

Better sleep can help:

Improve blood sugar control. During healthy sleep, your body is better able to use insulin, which helps keep blood glucose in a healthier range.
Reduce insulin resistance. Not getting enough sleep can make it harder for insulin to work effectively, leading to higher blood sugar levels.
Support healthy food choices. Poor sleep increases hormones that make you feel hungry and crave high-sugar, high-carbohydrate foods, making diabetes management more challenging.
Increase energy for physical activity. When you're well rested, you're more likely to exercise, which helps lower blood sugar and improves insulin sensitivity.
Reduce stress. Lack of sleep raises stress hormones such as cortisol, which can increase blood sugar levels.

How much sleep do you need?

Most adults should aim for 7–9 hours of sleep each night. Sleeping much less—or even much more—on a regular basis has been linked with poorer blood sugar control.

Signs that poor sleep may be affecting your diabetes

Higher morning blood sugar readings
Blood sugar levels that are difficult to control despite following your treatment plan
Increased cravings for sweets or carbohydrates
Feeling tired during the day
Trouble concentrating or remembering things
Limited activity due to fatigue

Tips for better sleep

Go to bed and wake up at the same time every day, including weekends.
Avoid caffeine late in the day and limit alcohol close to bedtime.
Turn off phones, tablets, and TVs at least 30–60 minutes before bed.
Keep your bedroom cool, dark, and quiet.
Stay physically active during the day, but avoid vigorous exercise right before bedtime.
If stress, anxiety and depression are preventing adequate sleep consider meeting with a clinical psychologist or psychiatrist to discuss options to help.
If you take insulin or medications that can cause low blood sugar, talk with your healthcare team about how to prevent overnight lows.

Sleep disorders and diabetes

People with diabetes are more likely to have sleep disorders, especially sleep apnea, a condition in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep. Symptoms include loud snoring, gasping during sleep, morning headaches, or excessive daytime sleepiness. Treating sleep apnea can improve sleep quality and may help with blood sugar management.

The bottom line

Healthy sleep is an important part of diabetes care—just like healthy eating, regular physical activity, and taking medications as prescribed. Making sleep a priority can help improve blood sugar control, increase energy, and support your overall health. If you have ongoing sleep problems or your blood sugar remains difficult to manage despite your efforts, discuss your sleep with your healthcare provider.

For more information on diabetes management, preventing heart disease, chronic kidney disease, weight loss or nutrition education please call 561-659-6336 ext 8012 to schedule an appointment today. Please enjoy our June 2026 Living Well with Diabetes Newsletter

Diabetic Ketoacidosis

By: Mayra Lomonaco, M.D.

DKA is a serious and life-threatening complication of diabetes caused by an overload of acids (ketones) in the blood. Ketones are chemicals that are produced from the breakdown of fat in the body when there is not enough insulin to use glucose as fuel or energy. When ketones build up in the blood it can become toxic by making the blood acidic.

DKA can happen in any person with diabetes or undiagnosed diabetes. It is more common in people with type 1 diabetes mellitus but it can also happen in type 2 diabetes as well. It is usually triggered by an infection or illness, missing insulin doses or prolonged uncontrolled blood sugars, drug (e.g., cocaine, ecstasy) and alcohol use. Symptoms include constant fatigue, increased thirst and urination, dry skin and mouth, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, deep and rapid breathing, change in mental status, among others.

The best way to prevent DKA is by checking blood sugars with a meter (glucometer) regularly and avoid missing insulin doses. There are a few at-home tests that can be used to see if DKA is present, such as blood or urine ketone tests. The blood ketone test is like a glucose meter that will measure the level of ketones in the blood. The urine test is a strip that will turn a certain color depending on what level of ketones are in the urine, which can be purchased at the local pharmacy without a prescription.

Treatment of DKA is usually done in the hospital with intravenous fluids to correct dehydration and electrolyte imbalance and insulin to reduce blood sugars. DKA, if not treated, can lead to diabetic coma or even death due to fluid overload in the brain, kidney failure and cardiac arrest (heart stops).

If You Take Insulin, You Need Glucagon!

By: Ines Cobo RN, CDCES

If you take insulin, you need to have glucagon. Insulin has the possibility of lowering your blood sugar to dangerous levels. If you accidentally take too much insulin, accidentally take the wrong insulin, exercise or don’t eat enough your blood sugars can go too low. Glucagon can counteract that and make sure that you don’t end up in a dangerous situation due to severe low blood sugar.

Glucagon is a hormone the body produces to prevent low blood sugar, but in people with diabetes, this natural production isn’t enough during severe hypoglycemia. Emergency glucagon is a medication used when a person with diabetes is experiencing severe hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) and cannot take sugar orally (by mouth). Once injected, it raises the blood sugar by sending a signal to the muscles and liver (where glucose is stored in your body). It comes in several forms including a nasal spray, auto-injectors, prefilled syringes, or a powder that must be mixed with a liquid before injecting.

Nasal glucagon—Baqsimi®: This is an emergency glucagon that’s administered through your nose.
Glucagon pen—Gvoke HypoPen®: This is a premixed glucagon injection that you press against your thigh. The auto-inject device makes it quick and easy to use. It is also available in a prefilled syringe.
Glucagon Prefilled Syringe—Gvoke Kit®: This is a premixed glucagon in a vial that comes with a syringe, allowing you to draw up the dose manually and inject it directly into your thigh.
Glucagon pen—Zegalogue®:Also a premixed glucagon, available as an easy-to-use auto-inject device. It is also available in a prefilled syringe.

If you do not have glucagon at home, please talk to your physician or diabetes educator to obtain a prescription. Educate your family and friends on glucagon and how to use it in case of an emergency. When traveling make sure you bring your glucagon kit with you.

If you are experiencing frequent lows always contact your medical provider or diabetes educator to determine and correct the cause. If you would like more information on managing low blood sugar or need a pump training refresher, please call the education line to schedule an appointment with one of our certified diabetes care and education specialists at 561-659-6336 ext 8012. You can also check out the resources available on the American Diabetes Association website at www.diabetes.org

Healthy Meal Planning Class & Pre-Diabetes Sessions are available! Join our classes to stay motivated in 2026 & feel great!

Healthy Meal Planning Class

West Palm Beach Location (Virtual on ZOOM!)

2101 N. Australian Avenue, West Palm Beach, FL 33407

Tuesday August 11^th 10am-12pm

Pre-Diabetes Class

West Palm Beach Location (Virtual on ZOOM!)

2101 N. Australian Avenue, West Palm Beach, FL 33407

Tuesday July 21^st 10am-12pm

If interested attending this program please contact our scheduling department at (561) 659-6336 Extension 8012 today!

At Healthy Living with Diabetes we want to ensure that you are satisfied with all services received. We also would like your input on educational workshops that you would like us to offer, information you would like to read about in Healthy Living with Diabetes Monthly or feedback on any workshop that you may have attended. You can contact the director of education personally by email jcook@PBDES.COM or leave a message at (561) 659-6336 ext. 8012. We would love to hear from you!

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