Why Do I Wake Up At Night Between 1am and 3am?2/26/2014
Insomnia: Why can't I fall asleep or stay asleep? Most patients who walk through my door wake up around 1-3am. The most common reason for this is hypoglycemia. Once I get them eating a small snack with protein before bed their sleep-maintenance insomnia usually subsides. There are several other reasons for waking up around this time but clinically I have seen low blood sugar as being the most common. If having a snack before bed doesn’t cut it and you’re still waking up in the middle of the night you should definitely talk to your Naturopath or Medical Doctor about it, especially if you're having other symptoms. Many people say eating before bed will cause you to gain weight but a small snack may actually help you lose weight as I discuss further down. Click "Read More" if you'd like to learn more... Protein helps glucose get into your cells more efficiently via insulin and is converted to glucose much slower than if you were to just eat sugar. Fiber slows your absorption rate of glucose so both protein and fiber will help keep your blood sugar stay stabilized while you’re sleeping. Protein also provides amino acids that are necessary for neurotransmitters like serotonin, dopamine and GABA (which I mention below) to be made. Every action has a reaction so if you eat that donut your blood sugar will sky-rocket and then plummet soon after. Your goal should be to keep your blood sugar as close to the midline in the picture above as you can and aim to have blood sugar regulated until cortisol is naturally elevated when it's time to wake up. Snacks that help fall asleep and stay asleepMy number one recommended snack is 2 handfuls of pumpkin seeds (not in the shell) aka pepitas How low blood sugar wakes us up at night
Besides feeling terrible, insomnia comes with its complications as well which are too plentiful to discuss in this article but can involve weakening your immune system, emotional strife, poor work performance, side effects from caffeine and poor-decision making to name a few. Other complications due to excess cortisol secretion can consist of osteoporosis, weight gain and elevated blood sugar. Reasons why we wake up in the middle of the nightThere are plenty of other reasons why we wake up in the middle of the night which can be exacerbated by hypoglycemia as well. For instance, if you have Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH), you may be waking up around 3am because you have to pee. Most men attribute this to the BPH but once I get these guys eating properly and having a snack before bed the urge to urinate doesn’t wake them up anymore. It’s more of a combo of something is going on in your body that would wake a light sleeper but if you can get into the deep sleep, you won’t be so sensitive to it. This effect can happen with almost any symptom that’s preventing you from sleeping (i.e. bloating, pain, flatulence, snoring, etc…) Our bodies are programmed to turn our senses off while we’re sleeping, but if we pump out cortisol we’re going to wake up and those senses will re-engage. Once our senses re-engage we will be able to perceive those internal and external stimuli that we wouldn't have noticed while in a deep sleep. Sleep apnea Thanks for reading! Sincerely, 2/27/2014 02:28:40 am You're a rock star Justin! I see this a lot too.. You explain it so simply :) 7/15/2015 10:12:29 am Thanks a lot Keila! Kristi 4/14/2014 10:43:18 pm Now this tells me the reasons why... thanks 6/4/2014 05:53:58 am You're welcome! Deo 6/3/2014 03:10:31 pm Thanks a lot! :D this really helps :) 6/4/2014 05:54:28 am You're welcome! chie 8/10/2014 03:43:59 pm Thanks for this. Very helpful. I thought all this time that it's because of the ghost. Funny. I also wake up between 1am to 3am, and im taking glutathione (PH338) as food supplement do you think it is also the cause? Thank you so much. Bianca 8/27/2014 07:03:54 am What interesting facts!! Thanks, this helped a lot and was so easy to understand. 7/15/2015 10:13:05 am Thanks Bianca, I'm glad it helped! dawn 10/1/2014 10:13:22 pm So I suffer from this. If I manage to get back to sleep and sometimes I don't I am usually sick hungry in the morning. I guess this could be low blood sugar... never thought about it until now. Dinner is at 5 and I try to not eat until morning because eating before bed makes you gain... I'm so glad I read this I will try a bedtime snack. What do you suggest? 7/15/2015 10:14:23 am Hey Dawn, Refer to the snack ideas mentioned in my article. Jamie 10/20/2019 12:02:48 pm Where do you get your pumpkin seeds? Those I've found local are from China, which makes me question their quality. Emma 11/5/2014 12:59:32 pm Wow! Excellent article. My friend told me to look into this. it explains a lot. Thank You! 7/13/2015 06:10:55 am Thanks Emma! AJ 11/10/2014 06:51:27 pm Hey Dr Justin Gallant, thanks for the info. I am a 42 years old living in NYC. After going to bed at 10pm. I have been waking, with heart racing, up at 3am and then go back to bed at 5am. This has occurred for the past 15-20 years. A nutritionist told me to eat protein at night. So I eat 3 hard boiled eggs, results 10pm - 4am. I eat 4 boiled eggs, results 10pm - 5am. I eat steak, sausages and scrambled eggs, results 10pm - 7am but my body feels like it has been working out with sore muscles. I can't eat steak every night. Recently, I tried beef stew and 2 hard boiled eggs, result 10pm - 2am. Correct me, but do you suggest fiber at night? What are your thoughts? thanks, 7/13/2015 06:19:42 am Hey AJ, You shouldn't have to eat that much before bed to maintain proper sleep. I suggest just a small snack. Shelby 1/14/2015 10:52:45 pm I keep having this problem of waking up in the middle of the night, anywhere between 1am and 5am (usually around 3am) feeling absolutely starving! I kept thinking I had a peptic ulcer because the pain was so bad, but I wasn't experiencing any of the typical heartburn issues. I must not be eating enough protein and I know for certain I don't eat enough of anything during the day (I have severe chronic pain issues that prevent me from mustering the strength to get up and make GOOD food) and I was wondering if there was anything I could buy that is ready-made with enough protein that I might be able to use when I can't stand for long and make a healthy meal. Last night I ate a grilled cheese sandwich around 8:30pm and finished it with a homemade milkshake around 9:30 and went to bed soon after, but found myself awakened by 3am feeling starving, which I would have thought was not possible. Any other tips you can offer so I can finally start sleeping through the night again? I greatly appreciate any advice you may have! Thanks for making me feel better about it NOT being a peptic ulcer! Greg 7/3/2015 09:51:36 am Milkshake? As in sugar? Cut that out of your diet at any time. 7/13/2015 06:22:23 am Hey Shelby, Thanks for contacting me. the witching hour 2/22/2015 08:45:59 pm I thought that I was a witch in a prior life , all I need is bedtime snack. That is good news. It is 3:30am now. 7/13/2015 06:23:52 am Haha, I thought something similar. Sara 2/24/2015 02:59:52 am Ah this explains a lot!! It was always beyond me how on earth can i wake up starving really bad after having nearly full pizza at 10-11pm. I always eat loads and i mean loads im constantly eating pastas pizzas meats breads all fueled with carbs and calories and im only size 8 but it never really bothered me that much. I had a lot of stress lately at both work and home and this stops me from eating regularly and healthily, now i always wake up at 3:00am it really freaked me out at one point. Its just annoying once i wake up i cant go bk to sleep for another 2 hrs and then next thing i know is i've got to get up for work. I guess i need to eat more before bedtime pheww:) thank you great article!! angella 5/21/2015 04:18:42 am no you don't need to eat MORE your eating to much.. high starch/high carbs your insulin is going through the roof and you come crashing down. stick to protien and veges and you won't have this issue. 7/13/2015 06:09:09 am Agreed! Greg 7/3/2015 09:54:18 am Pizza is terrible for your health. See wheatbellyblog.com 7/13/2015 06:09:48 am Agreed Greg! sunni 4/4/2015 06:42:52 am Super happy to see this posted by a DR in my city. Expect a new patient soon :) 7/13/2015 06:03:58 am Thanks Sunni! Jill 4/20/2015 05:17:47 am I think a GABA SUPPLEMENT would also help in these cases. 7/13/2015 06:03:26 am A GABA supplement may help but since hypoglycemia raises cortisol and cortisol blocks GABA, it would be a good idea to try to prevent hypoglycemia to prevent that cascade naturally rather than taking a supplement. I was suggesting GABA quite a bit before I got to this conclusion and now I do not recommend it anywhere near as much. Lynda 4/15/2016 11:36:53 am if you've tried 2 handfuls of pepitas with no noticeable difference, would it be worth trying a GABA supplement? If so, what type and dosage would you suggest? 4/27/2015 09:06:58 am This is concise and to-the-point! I see this so often with my patients, but you've given me such a simple solution :) 7/13/2015 06:24:34 am Thanks Nicole, I appreciate it! Anna 5/1/2015 05:12:03 am I been waking up every night between 1-3am for almost a year now. Since this started happening I look and feel very tired and the look on my eyes has changed. The only time when I can sleep all night is if I'm very happy that day. This has happened few times. Can you please Dr. Justin advise me. Thank you! Anna 5/22/2015 09:15:43 pm Thank you ever so much to the person who replied to my comment/question above!! I appreciate it so much!! It's lovely to know that such people exist!! You are amazing!! Thank you! 7/13/2015 05:58:34 am Hey Anna, Thanks for your inquiry. David Caldera 6/22/2015 01:49:32 pm ! wake up between 1am and 3am once to 3 times ?I live in San Antonio, Texas. Justin can you refer me to someone here? I need it bad. Thanks 7/13/2015 05:55:48 am Hey David, Try Dr. Rebecca Ford out if she's close enough. Just make sure whoever you go to went to an accredited college like SCNM. Jillian 7/26/2015 01:36:53 am Thank you! I have been recovering from anorexia for 9 years, and though weight restored, I still struggle with getting enough nutrients. I notice after days with my long runs, I am more likely to wake up earlier and earlier. I naturally would crave some carbs (more mentally than physically as I agree with the nausea) and stuck to a complex carb with protein/fat. Helped tremendously! After reading your article, I am hopeful that preventing the 2-3 a.m. snack with a pre-bedtime protein snack will do the trick! It is nice to have reassurance by a professional rather than pure anecdoctal data. MUCH APPRECIATED!!! Granted, I was diagnosed with GAD/MDD... but I feel my emotional stability is very much correlated to how well I am doing with my dietary intake. Any comments on that are welcomed. :) 8/3/2015 08:12:08 am Hey Jillian, Thanks for your comment. Les 8/12/2015 11:32:52 am I'm a 67 years old male. I woke up at 4:20 AM and checked my fasting blood sugar level. It was 124. I used the bathroom, drank water and went back to bed. When I got back up at 7:50 and checked my fasting blood sugar was 149. What would cause this? 2 hours after eating breakfast my blood sugar will be about 106 to 120 and I'm feeling bad. I tried Actos. It reduced fasting to about 108 but 2 hours after eating. Blood sugar was 77. I felt bad and very hungry. Thank you for any help. 8/31/2015 06:37:38 am Hey Les, Your blood sugar increases in the morning like that because cortisol is released when your blood sugar gets too low. It's tough to say why you're feeling bad 2 hours after meals, you should go to your doctor and let them know about this so they can ask more questions and try to figure it out. It could be a certain food that's making you feel bad and not necessarily your blood sugar. You should look into seeing a diabetic counsellor. Cathere 8/17/2015 03:35:48 am Dr. Gallant I have adrenal fatigue but not hypoglycemic and I wake up many times during the night after 12:30 1 o'clock... Can you recommended naturopathic doctor in the northwest suburbs of Chicago I live in Palatine 8/31/2015 06:44:23 am http://www.kellysimmsnd.com/ T 8/19/2015 06:37:42 am I'm 11 and I can't sleep, I wake up at 1-3 and go to sleep at 7:30 sometimes but everyday I go to school without sleep, I try to sleep in the day but Sleep has never been my friend. It's 3:35 am so I'm going to watch TV, hopefully if i eat healthy snack before bed? Is that it? If it doesn't get better should I tell mum? 8/31/2015 06:45:36 am Hey T, You can try eating a healthy snack before bed for sure! A.R. 8/27/2015 09:27:56 pm This information is so helpful. I was Dx with hypoglycemia (reactive) a few years ago. For the past year or so I'd wake up around the same time every night (about 3am) and can never get back to sleep. I do crash during the day and it affects my work. I really don't know how to plan my meals throughout the day. If I'm to eat every 2 hours l'll have to pack the grocery store with me every time I go to work. I will try the snack before bedtime, but what about the rest of the day? Thank you for writing this article. I'm feeling hopeful. P.S., I'm also a vegetarian. 9/24/2015 07:42:01 pm Hey A.R. thanks for writing. RaRa 9/1/2015 10:37:34 am Your take is interesting. Perhaps you might be interested in the bi-modal sleep pattern findings too? http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-16964783 9/24/2015 07:44:04 pm Thanks RaRa, I've read up quite a bit on bi-modal sleep patterns but I have so many patients who incorporate protein before bed and they stop waking up halfway through. It is a neat thing to think about, but I don't necessary think it should be a cause of sleep-maintenance insomnia. Lynne 10/4/2015 11:27:47 pm Hi I wake up at 4am no matter what time I go to sleep. I had taken Ativan for 2.5 years for insomnia now I'm dealing with PAWS. Who do you recommend near Glendale CA. Thank you 12/4/2015 12:08:19 pm Hey Lynne, I'd recommend Ashley Weber in Burbank. Jeff 10/15/2015 07:54:17 am Hi 12/4/2015 12:19:15 pm Hey Jeff, Check this guy out. Amanda 10/19/2015 12:38:59 pm Hi Justin. Really an interesting read, I feel sure that a protein rich snack will sort my problem out. My mother mentions the same sleep hindrance, but she mentions "getting up to urinate" which isn't my frustration - I eventually get up and go sleep on the sofa, and I'm out in minutes. She's tested for diabetes and isn't overweight, follows a healthy lifestyle, normal vitals. All fine. I see that you list "urinary issues" as a possible factor. Could you please direct me towards some info about this. Thank you and thanks so much for sharing all this helpful, detailed information. 12/4/2015 12:22:59 pm Hey Amanda, Thanks for the kind words! Timo Hu 10/24/2015 06:29:41 am It helps, what also helps are opioids, so a piece of bread with olive oil and poppy seeds is working the best so far. But what annoys me is that I'm not hungry in the evening nor in the morning and missing eating before bed results in me not sleeping after 3:30 am. Maybe the cortisol levels are elevated to begin with because of mild allergies or infections? And when the body elevates it further we wake up? Is there really no way to become normal again and not need to eat something to sleep like everyone else that I know? 12/4/2015 12:26:05 pm Hey Timo, Sometimes forcing yourself to have a snack later at night will actually trigger your appetite in the morning. Helen 12/4/2015 10:38:33 pm Hi Justin, I'm pregnant and have woken up again at 2am, and found your article which was very helpful, so thank you. 1/10/2016 06:19:09 pm Hey Helen, Thanks for your message. Kathleen 12/25/2015 01:52:21 pm Hi, just came across this information in my (somewhat desperate) search for information on how to improve my sleep. I have had a stressful year, coupled with high anxiety and panic attacks (...from the stressful year). I'm been having insomnia since I went off of Paxil in August. I've been trying to manage the anxiety with Ativan and a small dose of Celexa, but every night for the last 2 months, I crash at 10 pm and wake up at 2am - every day. It's so frustrating. I know that anxiety is playing a part, I have been pumping out a lot of adrenaline and cortisol this year, though trying to manage with yoga, exercise and meditation. I read your article with interest, when I do wake up at 2am, I am very hungry. Can going through a stressful period make our cortisol rhythms more reactive than normal? I also have iron deficiency which I am under treatment for. Thanks for any advice, I'm going to try your recommendations. If you know a good naturopath in the Oceanside, CA area, I'm in! 1/10/2016 06:28:35 pm Hey Kathleen, Thanks for your inquiry. 1/18/2016 03:18:25 pm Hey Kathleen, My friend Ashley Weber is an ND out there. Kathleen 1/18/2016 03:29:09 pm Thank you, I will! Why do you say pumpkin seeds are your number 1 recommendation? Also, instead of peanut butter on bread what about almond butter? I did try a protein shake before bed and I had to get up several times to urinate. I only added 1 cup water. Maybe unsweetened almond milk would have been better choice. 1/18/2016 03:15:57 pm Hey Pamela, Thanks for your question! 1/21/2016 01:11:53 am The best answer to my non stop waking after an hour or 30 mins of sleeping. Even though I'm full from my 9-10 dinner and sleep at 11:39 will end up waking up by 1am. I tend to binge like a small watermelon, Apple, handful of nuts and then last peanut butter on a toast then go back to sleep. If i will be up again just a frequent bathroom visit but not hungry anymore. I'm just young and is it possible to experience this. 27 years old slight underweight Michelle 2/1/2016 07:09:25 pm Why would pelvic floor weakness cause insomnia 2/3/2016 05:18:26 pm Hey Michelle, thanks for you question. If you have a weak pelvic floor and drink too much fluids before bed the pressure receptors in your bladder will be activated and wake you up to urinate. Dr Justin Gallant ND 3/9/2016 09:42:37 am I've heard good things about Rena Bloom! Andrea Foust 3/13/2016 06:22:28 pm Do you have someone to recommend in Huntsville, AL ? 3/14/2016 09:15:51 am Hey Andrea, thanks for your inquiry. I don't know her personally but this one appears to have the proper education and licensing. There are several in Alabama, it looks like, who don't have the proper training nor are actually licensed. If I hear of anymore I will let you know. http://www.drsaritaelizabeth.com/ 3/14/2016 11:17:17 am Here are a couple more: Shoals Natural Healthcare Center Thomas Barrett Cheryl Deavers 3/22/2016 12:37:18 am I've been waking up about 3AM with pain in my liver (almost dead center just below myribcage). Should I try the above listed snacks? I am tired so I want to go back to sleep, but the pain has been winning and waking me up. 3/23/2016 07:19:09 pm Hey Cheryl, thanks for your question. That area you're referring to is called the epigastrium and most people experience that sensation due to GERD (aka acid reflux). Terri 4/3/2016 12:28:06 pm I suffer every nite with sleep. Will start a protein snack asap. Went to bed exhausted last nite at 11:30 and watched the clock til 7 this morning. Worse nite ever, not one minute of sleep. Instead of resting today I can't stop spring cleaning, so starts the vicious circle again. 4/4/2016 05:26:52 pm Let me know how it goes Terri! Jay 4/11/2016 02:32:50 am Hi Dr J..... Your article was a real lightbulb moment as it perfectly, logically explains the readin for the 3 am or earlier wake up, often with legs thrashing so much I feel I am running a marathon in my bed. However I don't fit the rest of the profile. I eat a very balanced diet, with lots of green in it, including a green juice most days. I don't eat simple carbs and have no craving or spikes. I don't measure it but I feel my blood sugar behaves as it should. Not stressed or worried about anything, in fact the opposite.... I am generally content with life. The nightly wake up is definitely physical not mental.... I don't lie there worrying about stuff. So last night I ate my evening meal at 6pm. It was a balanced meal of sweet potato, nut roast and vegetable gravy with broccoli, fennel and tomato. I took an Epsom salt bath at 9pm. Then at 10, although not in the least hungry, ate a small amount of pumpkin seeds, with a small dollop of home made guacamole and a fig. Washed down with a cup of valerian tea. Fell straight asleep as I usually do but then woke up with racing legs as I often do. I'll persevere with this routine but do you have any insight as to why that didn't work for me? 4/12/2016 10:10:18 am Hey Jay, thanks for writing! Do you still wake up if you do this routine without the valerian? barbara mc evoy 5/3/2017 08:51:38 pm Sure sounds like Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) to me. Check it out. Also known as Willis Ekbom a neurological motor sleep disorder. Bonnie 4/29/2016 06:44:25 pm Can you recommend an ND in the Houston area? 4/30/2016 11:55:47 am Dr Andrea Patin ND is in Houston. https://txand.wildapricot.org/Sys/PublicProfile/26615938 Liz 5/12/2016 05:15:14 am hello, doc justin. I have acid reflux and try to avoid eating before going to bed but keep waking up a at around 2 or 3 am. your advice will be greatly appreciated. 5/16/2016 09:10:28 am Hey Liz, You should work with a Naturopathic Doctor to get your acid reflux under control. Once your reflux is under control and you identify which foods trigger acid reflux you should be able to consume a small snack like the ones mentioned above before bed. Take care! James 5/21/2016 03:50:39 pm Dr. Gallant, I started experiencing this sleep issue Jan of this year. Waking up routinely between 1-3 a.m. I would always drink a protein shake before bed(hit the gym 3-5 times a week). I stopped the shake and my sleeping habit improved dramatically. I started last week doing a different brand of protein and my sleep problems have started again. I'm at a loss as to what I should do. My PCM had little advice when I went to him months back. I thought it was the protein affecting me, but this article seems to go against that. Should I try naturally sourced protein instead i.e. eggs, pumpkin seeds? Or should I seek out a Specialist? Ft Worth, TX. Thank you! 5/24/2016 01:10:04 pm Hey James, Thanks for writing in. She's trained very similarly to me so she should be able to help you out quite a bit. I hope your sleep issues resolve ASAP. Nancy 8/28/2016 05:39:16 am What snack would you recommend for the gluten intolerant? Do you recommend a naturopath on the Oklahoma City area? 8/31/2016 02:19:33 pm Hey Nancy, Thanks for writing in! Here are some licensed ND's in Oklahoma City: Mack 9/20/2016 07:06:04 am HI Dr. Justin, 9/21/2016 01:07:32 pm Hey Mack, Get her to read this article and maybe she'll sleep the whole night through so you guys can get some peace! Lizzy 10/19/2016 12:40:04 pm Dear Dr., 10/19/2016 08:01:21 pm Hey Lizzy, Thanks for writing in. Part of me wonders if the symptom improvement and weight loss from IF comes from taking a longer break from the bad foods, or other things are being incorporated once following IF (exercise program, low carb/hi protein/fat, etc...) One of the great things is that we have options. We're all different so there can't be one solution for everyone. We have to find what works best for each and every one of us. Great stuff to discuss! Stephanie 5/15/2017 01:24:11 pm Thanks for this info. I'm 51 and have been waking at 2am for a couple weeks. I will definitely try pepitas tonight. I've never had sleep issues and this is getting old quickly. I'm also curious if you have any new opinions on IF. A couple years ago, I fasted from dinner until 10 or 11am the next morning because I'd read about the benefits of 16/8 IF. Interestingly enough, when I had my A1C checked during that time, it went up. I stopped then, but have been doing it again the past few weeks. Maybe this is attributing to my sleep issue too? I'm doing IF to regulate blood sugar, hormones and drop 10 lbs but maybe it isn't for every body. Thanks for your thoughts. Dr Justin Gallant ND 5/16/2017 11:03:32 am Hey Stephanie, I couldn't reply to your reply, so hopefully you see this. Karen 10/22/2016 04:19:36 am I have suffered with waking up between 1am and 3 am for over 10 years. I have been to multiple doctors to no avail. Sleeping pills is all I get. I also have RA. I have lost weight. I currently am using prescription pills to go back to sleep. I eat pretty well. I will try your suggestions. I live in the Dallas/Fort Worth area can you recommend a physician to help me? I really do not want to continue to take sleeping pills. My sleep is patchwork at best. The next day I am exhausted. I want to get out of this vicous cycle. Thank you. 10/27/2016 10:46:02 pm Hey Karen, Sorry to hear what you're going through. Thanks for writing in! Julia 11/29/2016 06:56:00 pm Hi, I am 28 years old and I wake up at 1:30am-2 am or so every night. I have had sleep issues for the past 3 months now. The sleep issues initially started as a result of severe work stress combined with a really bad case of the flu/sinusitis which lasted a few weeks. Initially I had trouble falling asleep. This is no longer the case & I drift off around 9:30-10:00pm most nights - but always wake up at the same time. I have tried getting up & reading, breathing exercises, sitting on the floor with a blanket over me and staring into the darkness. I have found over the past few nights I have to urinate several times during the night - which is new. I am not drinking that much water in the evening. I was prescribed Imovane (sleeping pill) but I am not taking that anymore as I want to return to a normal sleeping pattern. Prior to this I have always been an excellent sleeper with no problems falling or staying asleep. I am at my wits end. I eat a healthy diet, no coffee, exercise and I am in a healthy weight range. Do you have any ideas? Greatly appreciated. I live in Australia. I found your page through a google search. I will try eating a snack tonight. 12/1/2016 12:37:15 pm Hey Julia, Let me know how the pumpkin seeds before bed goes! Matt 1/7/2017 05:54:14 pm What about people who wake up around 6-7am? What could be the cause of that? And what can you do to help someone who always wakes up at a certain time of night to urinate? No infection, not old-age related. Thanks! 1/9/2017 11:46:26 am Hey Matt, I find that if people go to bed later (12-2am), they'll wake up later (6-7am), It's more the people who go to bed at 9-11pm who wake up 1-3am. Jacob warren 1/13/2017 02:24:12 am I've been waking up at 1:00am every time I have a nightmare and it's the same nightmare what do you think I need to do to stop it cause I'm not getting enough sleep for school 1/13/2017 09:18:55 pm Hey Jacob, Kristin 2/1/2017 12:17:56 am Thanks, that was a great read! Just a few things to clarify: Sorry for all the questions - just looking for some clarification from reading the article. 2/2/2017 09:12:39 pm Hey Kristin, Thanks for the kind words! I get patients to have the pepitas or cashews before bed regardless of what time they're going to sleep. Even if you eat at 8-9 and sleep at 11-12, once 3am comes around blood sugar is most likely to drop quite a bit. I usually recommend having the snack about 10-15 mins before bed. No need to apologize, those are great questions! Hopefully it helps! Julie 3/7/2017 07:37:17 pm I've read your article, and all comments as well. I'm just wondering, did any of the people asking for an advice got back to you after a while and reporting if their sleep actually improved or not. It would be nice to have some kind of "before and after" testimonials... 3/8/2017 05:06:29 pm Hey Julie, Thanks for writing. Julie 3/8/2017 05:10:37 pm Thank you, and yes - I will let you know how it goes. I really hope it helps, I'm kind of geting desperate.... LaTasha 3/18/2017 05:09:34 am What is the recommended amount of cashews? I had sworn off the highly addictive, deliciousness of the cashew (... eat way too many, ruining my efforts to lose weight)... BUT, if it will help with my 3am waking issue, I'm game. Thanks for your article... I've had my doctor mention this to me, but didn't explain it very well. So, I just kept doing my normal routine. Now I have the science behind why I should change my routine. Looking forward to a good nights sleep. Dr Justin Gallant ND 3/20/2017 11:24:01 am Hey LaTasha, It's definitely dose dependent. Steve 5/5/2017 11:31:42 pm I think you might have saved my life. I have been doing this for 2 months and I can sleep at last. Dr Justin Gallant ND 5/6/2017 01:27:39 pm Hey Steve, That's awesome to hear, thanks! Mike S. 5/8/2017 09:55:03 pm How does one know whether your symptoms are caused by hypoglycemia or adrenal fatigue since the wake up in the night is due to high cortisol levels? Thanks. Dr Justin Gallant ND 5/9/2017 12:23:34 pm Hey Mike, Great question! If the pepitas work wonders and you're no longer waking up, the adrenals are most likely fine. Marilyn 5/29/2017 12:12:17 pm I have had insomnia for 15 years and of coarse tried several things. Two weeks ago I found your article and started eating peanut butter on a celery stick right before bed. I slept through the night for almost the two weeks then the past three nights I started waking up again between 1-3:00 and being awake about two hours. I don't understand why it worked and now it isn't. Can you give me some thoughts as too what happened and what to do now. Dr Justin Gallant ND 6/2/2017 09:53:08 am Hey Marilyn, Thanks for writing in, I'm glad you had some temporary relief. Elle 7/28/2017 05:10:21 am I wake up almost nightly between 1 and 3am but do not feel hungry at all just tired and irritated that I can't go back to sleep. Basically I sleep from 9pm to 1 am and that's it. Is this still a sugar problem do you think? Dr Justin Gallant ND 8/1/2017 07:21:29 pm Hey! Thanks for your inquiry. Sara Al Mukaimy 8/7/2017 03:40:21 am Wow Dr, Thank you .. things are making sense now!! The way you explained hypoglycemia makes so much sense to me. Dr. Justin Gallant ND 8/11/2017 01:53:31 pm Thanks for your kind words! Let me know how it goes! MARIE MILLER 8/16/2017 08:55:16 pm Hi Doc, I am an Australian living in Arizona, can I do a skype consult with you please? There is not a decent naturopath in the little town I live in. regards, Marie. Dr. Justin Gallant ND 8/20/2017 11:00:54 pm Hey! I appreciate it! DAWN 1/5/2018 02:02:17 am I suffer with knee pain. I take an 800ibu at 2100 and it relaxes me enough to fall asleep. At 130 I wake up like clock work to out an ice pack on my knee for comfort and I still stay awake untill 0300 maybe 0500. I will try a small snack as well and see how my body reacts. Thx Dr Justin Gallant ND 3/15/2018 03:55:21 pm Hey Dawn, Hopefully it helps. Darlene 1/8/2018 10:27:02 am I will try this. I lost some weight over the summer (not healthily) by fasting, and since then, I have been waking up at crazy times.. 11:30 if the dog wants out,, 1am - 3 am and staying awake.. This has been going on for 6 months.. I'm exhausted, and I feel like my body is vibrating on the inside (only way to describe it).. I am freezing under a ton of heavy blankets, my body feels cold, and my mind races. I will try the peanut butter on whole grain crackers before bed tonight.. .. I tried melatonin for over a month,and nothing.. tried lavender essential oil by my bed and nothing.. Neocitran and fireball works a bit, but Im not a drinker, so I tried that a couple of nights. My doctor says all levels are fine. except for my thyroid which we've been working on since I messed it all up last summer with the fasting.. Dr Justin Gallant ND 3/15/2018 03:56:49 pm Hey Darlene, Thanks for writing in. Margo Priest 2/10/2018 10:15:50 am Hello! Can you please tell me the best way to lose weight? I am 54 yrs old, post menopausal, need to lose about 15-20 pounds. Is it better to eat every 3 hours (starting an hour after waking)? I have done IF and think I messed up my body, blood sugars, adrenals, etc.... also waking between 1-3am! What about excercising on an empty stomach after waking? What about the keto diet? There is so much confusing information out there... please help! Thank you, Dr Gallant! Dr Justin Gallant ND 3/15/2018 03:58:56 pm Hey Margo, Thanks for writing in. Beth 3/19/2018 04:58:10 pm Thank you Dr. Gallant. I have been struggling with waking up between 1 - 3 a.m. for years..... some periods of time are better than others but I feel like i've always been a poor sleeper. (I'm female; 51; post menopausal) Your article came up when I did a google search; the idea of hypoglycemia is something that would never have dawned on me in a million years. I am swinging by the market on my way home tonite to buy the pumpkin seeds!! Raw/unshelled. I can't wait til bedtime (instead of dreading it)...! Thank you! Dr Justin Gallant ND 3/20/2018 05:06:39 pm Hey Beth, Thanks for writing in! Mike 3/23/2018 08:07:50 am I tried 2 handfuls of pumpkin seeds and I woke up 1.5 hours earlier (2:30 am) then my normal 4:00 am waking. How many nights until the seeds work? Dr Justin Gallant ND 4/4/2018 01:36:16 pm Hey Mike, Everyone is different. Rob Cook 4/24/2018 08:44:10 am Hi Doctor Gallant, I wake up between 12:30 and 1:30 every night. Can you recommend a doctor in the Delaware/Philadelphia area? Thank you, Rob Dr Justin Gallant ND 4/25/2018 04:59:54 pm Hey Rob, I've heard good things about Heather De Luca http://www.hdelucand.com/ There Magnanao 5/9/2018 05:49:27 am Hi Doc, I'm from the Philippines. Aside from experiencing of waking up between 1am-3am, feeling very weak and feel anxious for unknown reasons...there are also times at daytime between 9am to 12noon wherein I feel so weak for max of 5 minutes and after that episode, my strength will return. Also I observed that when I immediately eat a candy, my strength easily returned. I cannot lift my arms when this happens, feel so weak. Dr Justin Gallant ND 5/14/2018 09:39:06 pm Hey There, You should ask your family doctor about hypoglycemia or low blood sugar levels. monsie pickles ms 6/13/2018 04:51:58 am I have adrenal insufficiency or Addison's disease. The interpretation of my 2 ACTH tests I have had, are obscure. My partner is also in the same situation. We are an elderly couple. We both take 15 mg/day of HC. We wake up between 1 am and 5 am. We get up and take a camomile tea and listen to the radio for a while and then, go back to bed. Sometimes we sleep again straight away. Other times it takes longer. I do not like to get my body/mind use to having food every night when I wake up. Sometimes we eat a few walnuts... it seems to help. I know that the production of cortisol takes place between 3 am and 7 am (we get up at 7 am). But must of the time we are up listening to the radio in the living room... I have never seen anybody until today, you have met me half way so to speak. Is it ok to eat walnuts every night? Thanks for your wise and spot on explanation about the hypoglycemic episodes. (I live in Australia and I read in a book published here about the hypoglycemic fact. No mention about cortisol in her book though). A million thanks Dr Gallant Dr Justin Gallant ND 6/13/2018 10:36:00 am Hey Monsie! Thanks for writing in! Aubrey 7/9/2018 03:44:44 pm Dr. Gallant, this sounds like what might be happening to me. I’m 33/F and I haven’t been sleeping well for a while but recently, very little to none. I do have hypoglycemic symptoms from time to time, especially in the afternoon. My question is this: the two nights before my period comes, I am able to sleep more (7-8 hours). Why might that be? Every other night, I have major issues. I had my blood drawn today by an endocrinologist, including cortisol. But won’t the cortisol show up as normal in the morning after fasting? Thanks! Dr Justin Gallant ND 7/14/2018 11:41:25 am Hey Aubrey, Thanks for writing in! I'm not too sure why that would happen. Yes, cortisol fluctuates a lot. Debbie 7/31/2018 05:30:21 pm Ever since February I had a bad reaction to a hormone diet.. HCG that I had been doing on and off for years. I was cold and my inner thighs trembled.. I had arrhythmias red face and all these symptoms that were to me hormonal. (I’m no expert just a conclusion I came to through reading.. also my dr. said I threw off my endocrine system by adding the hcg hormone to my body for such a long time and that I have to ride it out until my endocrine system readjusts.. whatever that means) those symptoms have subsided but I started with insomnia in April. some nights I fall asleep at 11 and then wake up at 2 or 3. That’s a ‘good night’ other nights I can’t even fall asleep. I’ve had nights where I’m just laying in bed with my eyes shut but my mind is wide awake. I’m not worrying about anything I just can’t go to sleep. Weird enough I’m not tired the next day. However I know my body needs to sleep to repair itself and fear that one day I’m just going to drop with so little sleep. I won’t go back to sleep after but I start getting a little sleepy around 7 and might be able to sleep one light hour. (3-7 is cortisol producing hours?.. because that’s the time I cannot sleep!!) am I producing too much cortisol and will your eating protein before bed suggestion help in this case? Can you recommend a Dr in north California? Ty Dr Justin Gallant ND 8/1/2018 05:12:23 pm Hey Debbie, Sorry to hear what you've been through. This ND in North california has the same credentials as I do. Comments are closed. | Dr Justin Gallant NDNaturopathic Doctor with a passion for teaching about health. Health detective, health guide, health ambassador and health educator. RSS Feed CategoriesAll |
