Is Drooling In Your Sleep A Sign Of Diabetes?
Waking up to a wet pillow can feel embarrassing—and if it happens often, it’s normal to wonder if it means something is wrong. A common question is whether drooling during sleep could be a warning sign of diabetes.
In most cases, no. Nighttime drooling is usually related to sleep position, mouth breathing, congestion, reflux, sleep-related changes in swallowing, or sleep disorders—not blood sugar.
That said, diabetes can affect the mouth and throat in ways that indirectly influence drooling in some people (usually through complications or coexisting conditions).
This guide explains what causes sleep drooling, when (rarely) it might overlap with diabetes-related issues, and what to do if it’s frequent or new.
If drooling is persistent, severe, or accompanied by other symptoms, consider seeking medical attention.
Quick Answer: Is Drooling In Your Sleep A Sign Of Diabetes?
Drooling during sleep is rarely a direct sign of diabetes. Major diabetes symptom lists focus on things like increased thirst, frequent urination, fatigue, blurry vision, slow-healing wounds, and (for some people) unexplained weight loss—not drooling.
In fact, diabetes is more commonly linked to dry mouth (xerostomia) and reduced saliva flow than to “too much saliva.” This is related to dehydration from high blood sugar, medication effects, and diabetes-related changes to salivary glands and oral tissues.
Bottom line
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Occasional drooling alone is not a reason to suspect diabetes.
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If you’re worried about diabetes, pay more attention to classic symptoms (thirst, urination, fatigue, blurry vision, slow healing).
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If you have drooling plus other symptoms—such as extreme thirst (polydipsia), frequent urination, unexplained weight loss, or excessive daytime fatigue—talk with a clinician about appropriate testing.
Key Facts About Drooling, Sleep, And Diabetes
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Drooling during sleep is common and often benign.
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It usually happens when you sleep with your mouth open, have mouth breathing, or have impaired swallowing while asleep, allowing saliva to pool and leak out.
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Excess saliva can result from certain conditions or medications, and drooling occurs when saliva escapes due to impaired swallowing or the mouth remaining open during sleep.
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Diabetes resources do not list drooling as a typical symptom; diabetes is more commonly associated with oral dryness and gum/infection risk.
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High blood sugar levels can increase the risk of oral infections (including thrush) and gum disease, which may cause mouth discomfort or swallowing changes that could contribute to drooling in some cases.
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Sleep apnea is common in type 2 diabetes (pooled prevalence about 56% in one systematic review/meta-analysis), and apnea-related mouth breathing can contribute to drooling.
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Sudden heavy drooling (especially with trouble swallowing, facial weakness, or slurred speech) should be evaluated urgently because it can signal a neurological or structural problem.
What Is Drooling In Your Sleep?
“Drooling in your sleep” means saliva leaks from your mouth while you’re asleep. Clinically, sialorrhea refers to excessive drooling, but many people have occasional nighttime drool without having true sialorrhea as a disorder.
During deep sleep, relaxed facial muscles and throat muscles can cause your mouth to fall open, making it easier for saliva to leak out.
Even during sleep, saliva continues to be produced (usually less than daytime), and it helps keep oral tissues healthy. Drooling tends to occur when:
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your mouth opens during sleep,
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swallowing slows during sleep,
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saliva doesn’t get cleared normally and escapes,
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or when relaxed muscles allow saliva to leak out,
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or when an increase in saliva production or more saliva is present.
Common Reasons People Drool In Their Sleep
Most causes of nighttime drooling have nothing to do with diabetes. Identifying the underlying cause of drooling is important for effective management and treatment.
1) Sleeping position
Side/stomach sleeping makes it easier for saliva to escape due to gravity. Back sleeping often reduces drooling for many people.
2) Nasal congestion → mouth breathing
Allergies, colds, sinus issues, polyps, or structural nasal blockage can cause swollen or blocked nasal passages, pushing you into mouth breathing, which increases the chance of drooling. Using nasal strips, saline sprays, or humidifiers can help treat nasal congestion by opening up the nasal passages and may reduce drooling.
3) Acid reflux / GERD (“water brash”)
Reflux can trigger increased salivation as a protective reflex in some people (“water brash”), which can worsen nighttime drooling when lying down.
4) Sleep disorders (including obstructive sleep apnea)
Sleep disorders, such as sleep apnea, often involve mouth breathing and fragmented sleep patterns that can contribute to drooling. People with sleep apnea or other sleep disorders may feel tired during the day due to poor sleep and sleep deprivation. Teeth grinding (bruxism) is also associated with sleep disorders and may contribute to drooling. In people with type 2 diabetes specifically, OSA is common (meta-analysis pooled prevalence ~56%).
5) Neurologic or swallowing-related conditions
Neurological conditions and neurological disorders, such as Parkinson’s disease, stroke, ALS, and cerebral palsy, can cause chronic drooling mainly because saliva isn’t cleared well—not because the body makes “too much.” Chronic drooling often results from these neurological disorders due to swallowing issues and impaired muscle control. Swallowing issues, including difficulty swallowing, are common in these conditions and may require specific therapies. Additionally, diabetic neuropathy can cause trouble swallowing, which may lead to drooling in sleep.
Emergency warning: drooling with facial droop, slurred speech, or one-sided weakness needs emergency evaluation.
6) Medication effects
Certain medications, including antipsychotic medications such as clozapine, can cause excess saliva production and drooling as a side effect. Clozapine is a well-known example associated with hypersalivation (often worse at night).
(If drooling started after a new medicine, don’t stop it on your own—talk with the prescriber.)
7) Dental/jaw factors
Bite alignment, misaligned teeth, ill-fitting oral appliances, missing teeth, or jaw discomfort can make it harder to keep lips closed during sleep.
Misaligned teeth or bite problems can make it difficult to keep your mouth closed, which can lead to drooling. Sleeping with an open mouth increases the risk of drooling, while methods or devices that help keep the mouth closed may help reduce it.
Dental Health and Drooling
Your dental health plays a significant role in whether you experience excessive drooling while you sleep. When you have dental issues like tooth decay, gum disease, or teeth that don't align properly, your mouth may not close completely or your lips may not seal well during sleep. This makes it much easier for saliva to escape, particularly when you're lying down at night.
If you sleep on your stomach or side, gravity naturally works against you, pulling saliva out of your partially open mouth and onto your pillow. You're not alone if you've noticed this happening—it's a common experience that many people face when dealing with dental health challenges.
Mouth breathing is another factor you should consider if you're experiencing nighttime drooling. When you have nasal congestion from allergies, a cold, or conditions like obstructive sleep apnea, your body compensates by breathing through your mouth during sleep. This creates a situation where your mouth stays open during sleep, making it easier for saliva to leak out—even though mouth breathing itself often causes dryness rather than increased saliva production.
The combination of mouth breathing and certain sleep positions can significantly increase your likelihood of experiencing excessive drooling.
The good news is that addressing your dental problems can make a meaningful difference in reducing nighttime drooling. When you treat tooth decay, correct misaligned teeth, or manage gum disease, you're helping your mouth function more effectively during sleep. If you notice persistent drooling alongside other dental health concerns, it's worth having a conversation with your dentist or healthcare provider.
Taking steps to improve your oral health and managing underlying conditions like sleep apnea or nasal congestion can go a long way toward controlling drooling and supporting better sleep quality overall.
Is Drooling In Your Sleep A Sign Of Diabetes?
For most people: no.
Diabetes is more strongly associated with:
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dry mouth / reduced saliva, and
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higher risk of gum disease and oral infections when glucose is poorly controlled.
Drooling in your sleep is more often related to underlying medical conditions such as sleep disorders, allergies, sinus problems, acid reflux (GERD), sleep apnea, or even your sleep position, rather than diabetes. Recognizing these health problems and other medical conditions is important for overall wellbeing.
If you’re concerned about diabetes, use evidence-based symptom lists and testing—not drooling alone.
How Uncontrolled Diabetes Can Indirectly Relate To Drooling
While drooling isn’t a classic diabetes symptom, diabetes can increase the risk of issues that sometimes affect drooling. Diabetes can lead to conditions like autonomic neuropathy or acid reflux, which may indirectly affect saliva control. Autonomic neuropathy can impair involuntary functions such as swallowing, allowing saliva to pool during sleep. Uncontrolled diabetes can also increase the risk of oral infections and gum disease, which may cause mouth discomfort or swallowing changes that could contribute to drooling in some individuals.
Oral infections and gum disease
High blood sugar can increase glucose in saliva and weaken immune defenses, raising risk for cavities, gum disease, and infections that can disrupt normal oral comfort and swallowing.
Sleep apnea overlap
Type 2 diabetes and OSA commonly coexist; OSA-related mouth breathing can contribute to drooling.
Nerve complications (advanced/long-standing disease)
Diabetes can cause neuropathy (including autonomic involvement). If swallowing coordination is affected, saliva clearance can worsen. (This is not a typical early diabetes presentation.)
Symptoms That Should Prompt Diabetes Screening (Not Drooling Alone)
Common diabetes symptom lists emphasize:
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urinating often
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being very thirsty
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fatigue
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blurry vision
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slow-healing cuts/wounds
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unintended weight loss (more typical in type 1)
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high blood pressure, which is another chronic condition that can be associated with diabetes and may contribute to sleep-related health issues
Also, many people with early type 2 diabetes have few or no symptoms. In the U.S., USPSTF recommends screening adults 35–70 with overweight/obesity (and considering earlier screening in higher-risk populations).
Is Drooling A Sign Of Good Sleep?
Drooling can happen during deeper sleep because muscles relax and swallowing changes, but it is not a reliable marker of “good sleep.” For many people, drooling can be a sleep normal behavior and is not necessarily a cause for concern. Babies drool frequently, especially during teething, as a normal part of development and because their swallowing reflexes are still maturing. It can also occur with nasal obstruction or sleep apnea.
Better signs of restorative sleep include waking refreshed, stable daytime energy, and absence of loud snoring/gasping or morning headaches. Regardless of whether you drool, getting enough sleep is important for your overall health.
How To Reduce Or Stop Drooling In Your Sleep
Start with the most common drivers:
Drooling in your sleep can often be managed with a variety of treatment options, ranging from simple lifestyle changes to medical interventions. For many, adjusting sleeping positions or using over-the-counter remedies may help. However, in severe cases, special devices such as chin straps or dental appliances may be recommended to help keep the mouth closed during sleep and effectively manage symptoms. In some instances, medical treatments like medications or even surgery might be considered, especially if drooling is linked to underlying health problems.
Change sleep position
Back sleeping may reduce drooling for many people.
Treat nasal congestion
Address allergies/colds/sinus issues so you can breathe through your nose.
Manage reflux
Avoid late meals, elevate the head of the bed, and discuss frequent symptoms with a clinician. Water brash/reflux can increase saliva.
Consider sleep apnea evaluation if relevant
If drooling comes with loud snoring, witnessed apneas, gasping, or excessive daytime sleepiness, a sleep evaluation is reasonable.
Be cautious with “mouth taping”
Some people use it to encourage nasal breathing, but it’s not appropriate for anyone with nasal obstruction or suspected sleep apnea.
Medical Treatments For Severe Drooling
For persistent, severe drooling (most often in neurologic conditions), options can include anticholinergic medications, botulinum toxin injections, botox injections, speech/swallow therapy, and—rarely—surgical approaches. In severe cases, doctors may also recommend dental appliances or wearing a chin strap to help keep the mouth closed during sleep and reduce drooling. These should be clinician-directed because side effects (especially dry mouth) can be significant. Sleep Foundation
When To See A Doctor About Drooling
Make an appointment if:
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drooling is new and persistent without an obvious cause
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you’re drooling heavily every night
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you have choking/coughing on saliva, trouble swallowing, unexplained weight loss
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it began after a new medication
Seek urgent/emergency evaluation if drooling occurs with:
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facial droop, slurred speech, new weakness
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sudden inability to swallow or difficulty breathing
References
Andayeshgar, B., Janatolmakan, M., Soroush, A., Azizi, S. M., & Khatony, A. (2022). The prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea in patients with type 2 diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Sleep Science and Practice, 6(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s41606-022-00074-w
Diabetes Symptoms & Early warning signs: Know when to take action. (n.d.). https://diabetes.org/about-diabetes/warning-signs-symptoms
Fountain, L. (2025, August 21). Why do you drool in your sleep? Sleep Foundation. https://www.sleepfoundation.org/sleep-faqs/drooling-in-your-sleep
López-Pintor, R. M., Casañas, E., González-Serrano, J., Serrano, J., Ramírez, L., De Arriba, L., & Hernández, G. (2016). Xerostomia, hyposalivation, and salivary flow in diabetes patients. Journal of Diabetes Research, 2016, 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1155/2016/4372852
Oral health and diabetes. (2024, May 15). Diabetes. https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/diabetes-complications/diabetes-and-oral-health.html
Professional, C. C. M. (2025, September 30). Water brash. Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/water-brash
Symptoms of diabetes. (2024, May 15). Diabetes. https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/signs-symptoms/index.html
