Page 22 - Diabetes

when you eat at the usual meal times picture of your blood glucose. Always • Avoid caffeine toward the end of
during the day. be sure to discuss your results with your your shift.
If you wear an insulin pump, talk diabetes care team to help you solve • Avoid heavy meals close to “bed-
with your diabetes care team about any problems with blood glucose, so time,” whenever that may be. However,
adjusting your basal patterns for work you can make appropriate changes to a light bedtime snack may help you
versus non-work nights. The same may your regimen. sleep. Be attentive to your blood glu-
hold true for basal insulin that you cose control.
inject. You may also find that your Sleep Disorders • Check your blood glucose prior
insulin will need to be reduced while Working night or rotating shifts places to sleep to avoid low blood glucose
you sleep during the day. Thus, it is you at a higher risk for sleep disorders. while sleeping. You may need to set
important to make sure your dosages If you are sleep-deprived, your ability an alarm to check your blood glucose
work for both daytime and nighttime to focus and your memory may be during your sleeping hours.
sleep, based on your schedule. impaired. This may hamper your work • If you use continuous glucose
Monitoring. Self-monitoring your and increase your risk for accidents. If monitoring, you can set alarms to alert
blood glucose can help you identify you find yourself challenged to sleep you if your blood glucose goes lower
patterns in your blood glucose and during the daylight hours, and your or higher than your preferred range
how changes (such as changing shifts, blood glucose control is worsening, while you sleep.
days off and/or changes in your meal check in with your diabetes care team • Minimize sleep distractions. Your
times) are affecting your control. You to discuss ways to adjust your diabetes sleep area should be away from noises
can use this information to help you self-management plan. such as the phone ringing and the
anticipate times when your blood glu- You may find the following sugges- television playing.
cose may be too high or too low so that tions helpful to improve your sleep. Finally, make sure your family and
you can prevent these situations from • Try to avoid rotating shifts (alter- friends are aware that you work the
occurring. Whether you keep records nating day and night shifts several night shift. If you have pets, make sure
by hand or by computer, be sure the days in a row), which can be especially someone else takes care of them dur-
information is accurate and reflects challenging since your diabetes care ing the day to avoid sleep disruption.
the correct time and day. Look at data routine would be changing back and Keep as close to the routine for your
over several weeks to get a big picture forth on a regular basis. sleep time as possible. Regular, restful
of how your control looks over time. • Control your environment. Try to sleep is important to your diabetes and
Your diabetes care team may suggest a keep your workplace bright to promote your overall health.
continuous glucose monitor (CGM). alertness during the night, and use
A CGM measures interstitial glucose heavy curtains or blinds to block out Shift Work Takeaways
on a continual basis to provide a big the sun during your daytime sleep. Shift work may be a necessary part of
your life. Take the time and plan for
your diabetes care needs, keep up your
appointments with your diabetes care
team and educate your family and
friends about your routine. When you
feel your absolute best, both you and
your job will benefit. †
Laura Hieronymus and Jessica McMaine
are at the Barnstable Brown Diabetes Center at
University of Kentucky in Lexington, Kentucky.
Hieronymus is a doctor of nursing practice and
master licensed diabetes educator. She is the
associate director of education and quality ser-
vices. McMaine is a registered nurse and master
licensed diabetes educator at the pediatric endo-
crinology clinic. Pamela Allweiss is a medical
officer with the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, Division of Diabetes Translation, in
Atlanta, Georgia.

Disclaimer The findings and conclusions of
this report are those of the authors and do not Shutterstock/Solis Images
necessarily represent the official position of the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
20 March/April 2018