Sam Talbot’s Tips, Tricks + Snack Suggestions for Better Sleep
This content was made possible with support from Medtronic Diabetes, an active partner of Beyond Type 1 at the time of publication.
Though it’s often overlooked, food and overall diet can be an absolutely crucial tool in bettering sleep and forging healthy habits. Beyond Type 1 co-founder and chef Sam Talbot shares a few of his quick tips and anecdotes for making the most out of snacking situations and what specific tools are most helpful to him for maintaining a healthy routine and getting the most out of every night of rest. Read on + maybe add some of these to your day-to-day!
What’s a good late-night snack that doesn’t mess with overnight blood sugar levels?
Nori seaweed snacks are a great way to get a snack without a raise in blood glucose levels. I also love organic turkey jerky, some yogurt with cacao, roasted nuts and seeds, or dried sulphur-free fruit.
Do you change the timing of when you eat to get better sleep? Some people find earlier dinners to be helpful, especially if it’s a big meal.
Definitely. An early dinner time means better sleep for me—period. If I can digest my food for at least four to five hours prior to sleep, that’s the money spot for me. But it’s not like I can eat dinner at 3:30 pm, so it’s definitely a balance!
A few cups of chamomile tea also help me set the mood and calm my mind as well. Or even warm water with a touch of mint and lemon works wonders for me.
What’s your biggest challenge with sleep and Type 1 diabetes? Highs? Lows? The stresses of constant, hectic traveling?
Similar to what I said before, one of my biggest challenges right now is trying to eat an earlier dinner. If I eat dinner around 6 p.m., by the time I go to sleep, I feel like the blood sugars in my dinner have been processed and by 9 p.m. or 10 p.m. things have seemed to even back out. If I’m traveling or working, dinners and schedules change daily. But we manage because we are prepared as individuals living with type 1. One my favorite tricks is to drink some magnesium (like the CALM drink). That peaceful state of mind helps settle my blood glucose levels as well.
What other tools, routines, or habits have you found to improve your sleep?
Working out and getting exercise definitely improve my sleep. Those days that I miss out on moving around, I’m restless!
Meditation twice a day for me is also crucial. I definitely notice a deeper, more sustained sleep after. I also worry a lot less when I wear my Guardian™ Connect continuous glucose monitor (CGM).
Sam is a paid spokesperson for Medtronic. His thoughts and opinions are his own.
The testimonial above relates an account of an individual’s experience using a Medtronic device. The account is genuine, typical and documented. However, this individual’s experience does not provide any indication, guide, warranty or guarantee as to the response or experience other people may have using the device. The experience other individuals have with the device could be different. Experiences can and do vary. Please talk to your doctor about your condition and the risks and benefits of Medtronic devices.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
The Guardian Connect system requires a prescription and is indicated for continuous or periodic monitoring of glucose levels in the interstitial fluid under the skin, in patients (14 to 75 years of age) with diabetes mellitus. The system is intended to complement, not replace, information obtained from standard blood glucose monitoring devices, and is not recommended for people who are unwilling or unable to perform a minimum of two meter blood glucose tests per day, or for people who are unable or unwilling to maintain contact with their healthcare professional. The system requires a functioning mobile electronic device with correct settings. If the mobile device is not set up or used correctly, you may not receive sensor glucose information or alerts. For complete details of the system and its components, including warnings, contraindications, and precautions, please consult the user guide at http://www.medtronicdiabetes.com/support/download-library/user-guides and http://www.medtronicdiabetes.com/importantsafetyinformation.
