If you find yourself waking up often during the night to use the bathroom, you may want to take a closer look at your diet—particularly your intake of carbohydrates and snacks. While the occasional late-night trip to the toilet isn’t unusual, consistently waking up to urinate—especially more than once a night—could indicate a condition known as nocturia. According to the UK’s National Health Service (NHS), nocturia is defined as the need to wake up frequently during the night to urinate. Though it becomes more common with age, particularly among older adults, frequent episodes may point to underlying health concerns such as diabetes, high blood pressure, or an overactive bladder.What Is Nocturia?Medical experts, including health educator Dr Eric Berg, while speaking to a leading media organisation, suggested that nocturia can often be traced back to insulin resistance—a condition where the body’s cells no longer respond effectively to insulin. This results in elevated blood sugar levels, prompting the kidneys to work harder to flush out the excess glucose through urine, including during nighttime hours.Dr Berg explains that insulin resistance is commonly associated with obesity, especially around the midsection, a sedentary lifestyle, and diets high in refined carbohydrates and processed foods. Other factors like age, genetics, and certain medications can also contribute to the problem.Carbohydrate And NocturiaIf your nighttime trips to the bathroom are becoming disruptive, it may be worth assessing your carbohydrate intake. Dr Berg recommends cutting down on carbs to less than 30 grams per day and eliminating frequent snacking—especially at night. He also advises incorporating intermittent fasting, which involves reducing the number of meals without necessarily cutting calories.“Stop snacking at night and stop snacking in general,” Dr Berg advises. “Reducing how often you eat, not necessarily how much, can significantly improve insulin resistance.”In addition to dietary changes, Dr Berg encourages incorporating apple cider vinegar into meals—about a tablespoon diluted in water before eating. Apple cider vinegar is believed to help regulate blood sugar levels naturally. Regular exercise, ideally three times a week, is another powerful tool to combat insulin resistance and improve overall metabolic health.There are also other medical explanations for nocturia. In men, an enlarged prostate may prevent the bladder from emptying fully, while women may experience nighttime urination due to pelvic organ prolapse. Conditions such as heart failure can cause fluid buildup in the legs, which redistributes when lying down, prompting the kidneys to excrete more urine. Bladder infections and hormonal changes affecting antidiuretic hormone (ADH) levels may also play a role.If you're waking up between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m. regularly to urinate, healthcare providers recommend speaking with a doctor. Identifying and addressing the root cause—whether it is dietary, hormonal, or medical—is key to improving your sleep and overall well-being.In the end, tackling nocturia could be as simple as adjusting your diet and lifestyle. As Dr. Berg notes, “You’ll be surprised how quickly people see results just by making small, consistent changes.”