Many individuals have problems with celebrating restful sleep at night because of tremors that keep them awake. What is the cause of night time tremors which keep people from getting a good night’s sleep?

Many people think the problem of night time tremors is simply a result of a dopamine deficiency. Researchers have recently identified a very different reason for troublesome tremors at night time that keep many people with Parkinsons from getting restful sleeping at night.

This happens to be an issue with the regulation of sugar levels in the blood which is well documented in the research to cause insomnia and sleep deficits.

Low blood sugar levels at night time – a condition called hypoglycemic – contribute to a variety of symptoms including

  • Tremors
  • Nervousness
  • Sweating
  • Chills
  • Irritability
  • Fast heartbeat
  • Confusion
  • Headache

Note the overlap of the symptoms of hypoglycemic listed above and those of Parkinsons which include among others tremors, anxiety, irritability, cognitive dysfunction and depression. The synergetic effect of these symptoms result in tremors that keep people awake in the evening or wake them up throughout during the night.

Research Connecting Hypoglycemia with Parkinsons Symptoms

Neurol Neurochir Pol. 2025;59(6):570-575. Episodes of hypoglycemia in patients with Parkinson’s disease – results of two-week continuous glucose monitoring

Abstract

Aim of the study: Recent evidence suggests that Parkinson’s disease (PD) and glucose metabolism disorders may share some common dysregulation pathways. This study sought to determine the incidence of hypoglycemic episodes in PD patients and identify associated risk factors for these events.

Clinical rationale for the study: Hypoglycemia in PD, especially at night, is not well understood. This study quantified hypoglycemia in PD patients and identified autonomic dysfunction as a key risk factor, providing new insights for research into metabolic aspects of PD.

Material and methods: Thirty-five patients diagnosed with PD and 20 control subjects underwent a study consisting of a clinical and biometric assessment and two weeks of continuous glucose monitoring using the Freestyle Libre system to detect episodic hypoglycemia.

Results: Among PD patients, 18 (51.4%) had episodes of hypoglycemia, and 67.8% of the events occurred between 0:00 and 6:00 a.m. Compared to the control group, there were significantly more hypoglycemic episodes registered in PD patients (3.6/pt vs. 1.4/pt; p = 0.0006). Predictors of the occurrence of hypoglycemic episodes in the PD group were lower two-week average glycemic levels (OR: 0.85, p = 0.016), glycemic variability index (OR: 1.46, p = 0.02), and SCOPA-AUT scale score (OR: 1.23, p = 0.04).

Conclusions and clinical implications: Patients with PD are at higher risk of hypoglycemic episodes, especially at night and in the morning. Patients with autonomic dysfunction are at risk for hypoglycemic episodes. Recognizing hypoglycemic episodes can enhance the management of PD by enabling targeted interventions aimed at reducing glycemic variability.

Robert Rodgers PhD
Founder 2004
Parkinsons Recovery ®
https://www.parkinsonsrecovery.com
Road to Recovery from Parkinsons Disease
https://www.parkinsonsdisease.me