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Overnight Schedule And Diabetes Regiment
A DiabetesTeam Member asked a question 💭

So the past 2 weeks my routine has flipped since going back to work overnights (graveyard shift) I met with my diabetes educator/nutritionist and have learned that it is way harder on the pancreas and liver with this backwards schedule.
Does anyone else work graveyard shift and have any tips or tools to utilize

posted March 24, 2023
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A DiabetesTeam Member

I worked shift for years and no matter what you do it's hard on the metabolism because it is not "natural" to be awake at night and sleep during the day

The best I could manage was to totally turn my day around

When I woke up no matter what time it was I ate "breakfast", then lunch 4 or 5 hours later and supper when I got home even if that was 6 AM - and I mean a real supper meal - tried to psyche out my body to ignore the actual time of day

Then I also stayed up until when I would have gone to bed if it was PM instead of AM - you don't get off work at 5 or 6 in the afternoon and go to bed so I didn't go at 6 AM - I stayed up until 10 or 11 AM and then slept "all day" and got up at 6 PM or whatever

It sucks for home life since the whole world works on a day schedule, but I felt better doing it that way - if you try to be a "day operating shift worker" you will be constantly burned out

posted March 24, 2023
A DiabetesTeam Member

I worked a rotating shift for years. 7 days midnight, 7 days evening, 7 days morning, never a day off.

I always ate dinner at close to the same time. Between 1400 on the evening shift, and around 1700 on the other shifts. Lunch was always in the middle of my shift.

Breakfast was at 0600 on days. On evening and nights 0700 to 0800.

I felt fine on days and evenings. On nights, I started to feel alright on Thursdays, not good, just alright.

So, I went back to school. Changed everything.

posted March 25, 2023
A DiabetesTeam Member

I worked in a nursing home where I might be scheduled for 7 nights then a day off and the day shift next. It was hard on my body and I had children to look after work too. I did this for years but eventually shifted to a different job that was days only and much healthier for me as a diabetic!
I always ate my supper ( my hot cooked meal) no matter the shift at approximately the same time and a lunch and snacks every 4 hours.

posted March 25, 2023
A DiabetesTeam Member

I worked grave yard shift for years before I developed Diabetes.
Working 3 nights in a row I would find myself over tired and my body would feel sick. So I would need to work 2 nights skip a day and then work a third. I would sleep all day in-between. I can imagine working that shift with Diabetes. The disease drains your energy, you become moody, you can't eat right and you need rest. Your feet swell and you will need elastic stockings.
I would have plenty of water, snacks to eat every 3 hours ( which your nutritionist recommends). Have plenty of rest when you can when you go home. I wish you the very best in your job.
Carol

posted March 24, 2023
A DiabetesTeam Member

@A DiabetesTeam Member it's not as simple as that. Thank you and bless your heart

posted April 6, 2023

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