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    Diabetes and Sleep Health: Strengthening Immune and Metabolic Resilience

    Diabetes and Sleep Health: Strengthening Immune and Metabolic Resilience

    Strengthening Immune Health During Cold and Flu Season - Why It Matters for People with Diabetes

    As World Diabetes Day underscores global attention to diabetes prevention and care, it’s important to recognize sleep and immune function as part of the metabolic-health picture. Sleep quality influences inflammatory and hormonal pathways that affect glucose regulation, and disturbed sleep is common in people with diabetes (Reutrakul & Mokhlesi, 2017). Supporting restorative sleep and minimizing sleep disruption contributes to resilience during seasonal illness and helps preserve daily self-care capacity.

    The Critical Role of Sleep in Immune Function

    Sleep quality directly influences immune response. Research demonstrates that insufficient or poor-quality sleep impairs production of infection-fighting cytokines and antibodies, increasing susceptibility to respiratory infections and affecting recovery (Irwin, 2019; Besedovsky et al., 2019). For people managing diabetes, these sleep–immune interactions are especially relevant because poor sleep also worsens glycemic control through reduced insulin sensitivity and altered appetite-regulating hormones (Reutrakul & Mokhlesi, 2017).

    How Chiropractic Care and Physical Therapy Promote Wellness 

    Hands‑on and movement‑based therapies can support systemic resilience by reducing pain, improving mobility, and normalizing autonomic balance. Chiropractic adjustments and physical therapy interventions have been linked in literature reviews to improvements in posture, circulation, and neuromuscular function, factors that indirectly support immune regulation and reduce the physiologic burden associated with chronic pain (Gleberzon et al., 2023; Lynch et al., 2022). For people with diabetes, improved movement quality and reduced pain can make maintaining activity and self-care routines easier.

    The Role of Massage Therapy in Immune Support and Recovery 

    Massage therapy has been shown in clinical studies to lower circulating cortisol and increase lymphatic and circulatory flow, physiological changes that may support immune function and recovery from minor illness (Rapaport et al., 2012; Field, 2021). These effects are relevant for people with diabetes because lower stress hormone levels and improved circulation can support both sleep quality and peripheral tissue health.

    Integrating Ergonomic Sleep Support for Optimal Recovery 

    Sleep posture affects comfort and sleep continuity. Evidence on pillow shape and support shows that appropriately matched cervical support reduces neck-muscle activation and perceived discomfort across sleep positions (Daryushi et al., 2025). For people with diabetes, a population where sleep fragmentation is common, consistent cervical support can help preserve restorative sleep and reduce night‑time awakenings that compound metabolic stress. 

    This World Diabetes Day, consider including sleep quality and cervical comfort in conversations about diabetes care. 

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    Resources

    References

    • Besedovsky, L., Lange, T., & Born, J. (2019). Sleep and immune function. Pflugers Archiv - European Journal of Physiology, 471(6), 1–18.
    • Daryushi, M., Sadeghi, A., Taghavi, S. M., & Davoudi‑Kiakalayeh, A. (2025). The influence of pillow shape and content on neck muscular activity and perceived comfort according to sleep position. The Open Public Health Journal, 18, e18749445371712.
    • Field, T. (2021). Massage therapy and immune function. International Journal of Neuroscience, 131(10), 937–942.
    • Gleberzon, B., Goldberg, B., & Todres‑Masarsky, M. (2023). The influence of chiropractic adjustments on immune function: A literature review. Journal of Chiropractic Medicine, 22(4), 268–274.
    • Irwin, M. R. (2019). Sleep and inflammation: Partners in sickness and health. Nature Reviews Immunology, 19(11), 702–715.
    • Lynch, M., Driscoll, T., & Walker‑Bone, K. (2022). Physical therapy and immune function: A review of evidence and applications. Journal of Orthopedic & Sports Physical Therapy, 52(7), 365–375.
    • Rapaport, M. H., Schettler, P., & Bresee, C. (2012). A preliminary study of the effects of a single session of Swedish massage on hypothalamic‑pituitary‑adrenal and immune function in normal individuals. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 18(8), 789–797.
    • Reutrakul, S., & Mokhlesi, B. (2017). Sleep, circadian rhythms, and metabolic health in diabetes. Endocrinology and Metabolism Clinics of North America, 46(3), 699–714. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecl.2017.03.012