Melatonin is a hormone involved in our normal 24 hour sleep-wake cycle. It is secreted by the pineal (pine cone-shaped) gland in the brain, and is secreted more at night than during the day. Jet lag, night work, and poor eyesight are all conditions in which normal melatonin schedules are disrupted.
Insomnia is a problem seen frequently in people diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, and researchers at the University of Surrey in Guildford, in the United Kingdom, compared melatonin levels in diabetics with those of non-diabetic men.
Their study, published in June 2012 in PLoS One, included 45 to 65 year-old men. The melatonin levels were found to be higher:
in both lean and obese non-diabetic men, than
in the obese Type 2 diabetic men.
Both obese and lean non-diabetic men were found to produce more melatonin at night than did the men with Type 2 diabetes.
From the above information, it was concluded melatonin could possibly play a role in the development of Type 2 diabetes.
In August of last year investigators at the Geriatric Medical Center in Pardes Hana, Israel, reported the results of a study on melatonin for treating insomnia in diabetes. Their work, published in the journal Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity, included 36 older people suffering with both insomnia and Type 2 diabetes.
The people given melatonin supplements showed significant improvement in their sleep. After 5 months, the older people taking melatonin also showed a 1 per cent improvement in their HbA1c percentage.
From this study, the researchers concluded melatonin was effective for treating insomnia and also blood sugar control.
Although melatonin supplements are available, they should only be taken with caution. Common side effects include:
daytime drowsiness,
dizziness, and
headaches.
Abdominal discomfort, mild anxiety, irritability, confusion, and depression have also been reported.
It can also interact with other medications, including anti-diabetic drugs. Other drugs with which it interacts include:
anticoagulants (medications that slow clotting or dissolve clots),
immunosuppressants (mediations that suppress the immune system), and
oral contraceptives.
Melatonin should be taken only with the knowledge and advice of your doctor. Many people think that as melatonin is a hormone which is part of the normal sleep-wake cycle, they can take increased doses to help them fall asleep more quickly. The hormone plays a role in insulin regulation, so people diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes need to use particular caution in using supplements. Doses also vary widely, from 0.5 mg to 5.0 mg. It is not recommended for long-term use, so should usually not be used for more than two months.
How do you start to create a healthy lifestyle today so you can avoid feeling stressed due to lack of restful sleep?
For nearly 25 years Beverleigh Piepers has searched for and found a number of secrets to help you build a healthy body.
The answer isn't in the endless volumes of available information but in yourself.
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