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Eight hours of sleep. Still exhausted.
If you're sleeping eight full hours and still waking up exhausted, it might not be about how long you slept — it might be about what your blood sugar was doing overnight. In this episode of Nourished & Found, Frances Norgate explains why overnight blood sugar dysregulation is one of the most overlooked causes of poor sleep quality and persistent fatigue, even when you don't actually wake up in the night.
She explains the cortisol and adrenaline mechanism that fragments deep sleep beneath the surface, why a "sensible" evening of pasta and wine can leave you wrecked by morning, and how the timing of your meals and your first hour of daylight shape the night ahead more than most people realise.
Three takeaways:
Cortisol and adrenaline released overnight when blood sugar drops can fragment deep sleep without waking you fully
A dinner light on protein and fat — and especially evening sugar, starches alone or wine — is a common driver of overnight blood sugar instability
Sunlight on your face in the first hour after waking helps anchor cortisol and melatonin timing for the sleep you'll get that night
Free guides:
Is Your Blood Sugar Working Against You? Ten Signs Most People Completely Miss → francesnorgate.com/#bloodsugarguide
Pre-Diabetes: What Your GP Didn't Have Time to Tell You → francesnorgate.com/prediabetes-guide
Work with Frances:
Free 30-minute Blood Sugar Audit → francesnorgate.com/blood-sugar-audit
Free discovery call → francesnorgate.com/work-with-me
Follow Nourished & Found:
Substack → francesnorgate.substack.com
Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/nourished-found/id1868788812
Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/4xlG5vBrC0tKadVPfsBUus
Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. The information shared is general and may not apply to your individual circumstances. Always consult your GP or qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance, and never make changes to prescribed medication without medical supervision. Frances Norgate is a Qualified Nutrition and Lifestyle Advisor (mFHT, CertION, MA) and works alongside, not in place of, your existing medical care.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit francesnorgate.substack.com
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By by Frances Norgate, CertION, mFHT, MAIf you're sleeping eight full hours and still waking up exhausted, it might not be about how long you slept — it might be about what your blood sugar was doing overnight. In this episode of Nourished & Found, Frances Norgate explains why overnight blood sugar dysregulation is one of the most overlooked causes of poor sleep quality and persistent fatigue, even when you don't actually wake up in the night.
She explains the cortisol and adrenaline mechanism that fragments deep sleep beneath the surface, why a "sensible" evening of pasta and wine can leave you wrecked by morning, and how the timing of your meals and your first hour of daylight shape the night ahead more than most people realise.
Three takeaways:
Cortisol and adrenaline released overnight when blood sugar drops can fragment deep sleep without waking you fully
A dinner light on protein and fat — and especially evening sugar, starches alone or wine — is a common driver of overnight blood sugar instability
Sunlight on your face in the first hour after waking helps anchor cortisol and melatonin timing for the sleep you'll get that night
Free guides:
Is Your Blood Sugar Working Against You? Ten Signs Most People Completely Miss → francesnorgate.com/#bloodsugarguide
Pre-Diabetes: What Your GP Didn't Have Time to Tell You → francesnorgate.com/prediabetes-guide
Work with Frances:
Free 30-minute Blood Sugar Audit → francesnorgate.com/blood-sugar-audit
Free discovery call → francesnorgate.com/work-with-me
Follow Nourished & Found:
Substack → francesnorgate.substack.com
Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/nourished-found/id1868788812
Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/4xlG5vBrC0tKadVPfsBUus
Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. The information shared is general and may not apply to your individual circumstances. Always consult your GP or qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance, and never make changes to prescribed medication without medical supervision. Frances Norgate is a Qualified Nutrition and Lifestyle Advisor (mFHT, CertION, MA) and works alongside, not in place of, your existing medical care.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit francesnorgate.substack.com