Craving Carbs After a Bad Night of Sleep? Here’s Why.
You’re not broken, you’re just tired. Here’s why sleep deprivation flips your hunger hormones and makes diabetes even harder. Today, We’re Covering: How sleep affects ghrelin and leptin Why cravings spike after poor sleep How to reset...
The episode, word for word
I'm Neil Greathouse, I've been living with type 1 diabetes since 1992, and this is Your Best T1D Year. This podcast is under 5 minutes, which is about how long it takes for the average person to watch one TikTok... and then accidentally watch 47 more. Each episode, we dig into one habit that makes T1D feel less like a fire drill and more like something we can actually work on.
This month? It's sleep.
And today, we're talking about cravings. Specifically, why a rough night's sleep makes us want to eat like we just finished running a marathon... through a bakery.
When we sleep poorly, our appetite hormones go completely out of whack. Ghrelin goes up, that's the hormone that makes you feel hungry. Leptin goes down, that's the one that tells your brain, "Hey, we're full." So your body's response to being exhausted? Crank up hunger. Turn off fullness. And point you toward high-carb, high-sugar foods.
And if you've got T1D... that's like juggling chainsaws in the dark.
Because these cravings aren't just emotional. They're hormonal. Your body is literally trying to get fast energy, and carbs are its go-to.
This is one of those episodes I wish someone had handed me years ago. Because I used to think I was just weak. Like: "Why am I so bad at resisting snacks the day after a bad night?" The answer? You're not weak. You're wired to want fast fuel when you're tired. And when you live with T1D, that makes it even harder to stay in range, bolus well, or avoid rollercoasters.
But knowing what's driving those cravings?
That gives us power.
You're not doing a bad job, you're doing a difficult job. And sleep helps make it easier.
If you've had a bad night of sleep and find yourself craving everything in the pantry... try this: Don't restrict. Don't beat yourself up. But check in with your body.
Maybe drink some water first. Or go for a short walk before deciding what you actually want.
Those small pauses can help reset our appetite signals, and remind us: We're not just reacting to diabetes anymore... We're learning how to work on it.
I'm Neil Greathouse, and this is Your Best T1D Year.
New episodes drop every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
You're doing something so many people never even try: building habits that help. I see you, and honestly? I'm proud of you for staying in the hunt. Let's keep going. Nobody remembers easy...and you're resilient, strong and brave. So freaking proud.
Week 14
38 - May 12
This is the script as read on the mic, lightly tidied for reading. Education, not medical advice. Talk to your care team before you change anything about your insulin.