Many of my patients in their 40s and 50s describe the same pattern. They go to bed at a reasonable hour, stay in bed for 7 or 8 hours, and still wake up exhausted. Hot flashes, night sweats, and 2 a.m. anxiety spikes are breaking up their sleep without them fully registering it — they're getting time in bed, but not quality sleep. What most people don't realize is that this pattern isn't just draining. It appears to have a measurable effect on how the body handles blood suga