The Relationship Between Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Diabetes
by Jennifer Bunn, RNA new study has found that having obstructive sleep apnea can mean poorer glucose control for type 2 diabetics. Obstructive sleep apnea is estimated to affect more than 18 million people in the US. In obstructive sleep apnea, the sufferer quits breathing during their sleep for sometimes as long as a minute at a time. This may happen hundreds of times in a night. The person who has obstructive sleep apnea is often unaware they have a problem, but may report feeling tired all the time.
The study included 60 participants, only a few of whom had been diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea. After testing, 77% of the sample were found to be suffering from obstructive sleep apnea. After testing the participants and measuring a blood value sensitive for glucose control (Hgb A1C), it was determined that those participants with obstructive sleep apnea had higher numbers, leading the researchers to conclude that obstructive sleep apnea has a detrimental effect on glycemic control.
What is meaningful about this research is that treating obstructive sleep apnea could improve control for those who have concurrent type 2 diabetes. This could mean fewer complications for diabetics and less dependency on medication to control blood sugar levels. Obstructive sleep apnea can be treated with weight loss, oral appliances, positional therapy, or continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). Losing weight will often cure sleep apnea and will often improve glycemic control in type 2 diabetes.
Source: The Relationship Between Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Diabetes
