Chapter 7 - Regeneration

a half an hour or so after these kinds of stimuli to relax and mellow out. Read something inspirational. Think about something calming. Meditate. Watch or read something funny. Do something that you think might help a person sleep with pleasant dreams rather than unpleasant ones. My wife, Linda, counts her blessings every night. It works well for her.

Why is sleep so important to the diabetic? When we’re stressed (in the fight or flight state) our body is literally preparing to either engage in battle or run like mad. Either situation requires a sudden burst of energy. So in this state, the body calls on any energy stores it can, such as converting some fat into glucose, for immediately available energy. But then the diabetic can’t get the glucose out of the blood and into the cells. In type I, it’s because there isn’t enough insulin, in type II, it’s because the cells are resistant to even excessive amounts of insulin. Either way, the end result of stress is increased blood sugar, the most undesirable state for any diabetic. That increased blood sugar also contributes to frequent nighttime urination, another sleep robber. Conversely, you can minimize your overall stress levels by getting plenty of natural sleep.

Another way is to learn and practice relaxation techniques. Twenty minutes a day of sitting quietly, preferably with your eyes closed, without talking to anyone, listening to anyone or hearing conversations, no music with lyrics, no interruptions, no reading, just sitting alone, quietly, can work well for this. Soft, soothing, instrumental music is OK, however, if not recommended. Or try closing your eyes and singing the word HU. (Pronounced like “hue.”) Sing it once with each long, drawn out breath, over and over, for about 20 minutes. An ancient, sacred name for God, it seems to have a calming and uplifting effect for most people. Sing it aloud when you’re alone, or silently to yourself when others are around you.

The less you allow yourself to be upset by your surroundings, the less stress will develop, the less sleep loss will manifest, and the better you’ll therefore be able to control your blood sugar in a natural way.

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