Here’s some information that I posted on my employer’s blog that is truly worth considering if you have either Type 2 diabetes or obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
You may have both!
The International Diabetes Foundation has found that 58% of diabetes patients may have some form of sleep disordered breathing. The IDF stated this year “The possibility of OSA should be considered in the assessment of all patients with Type 2 diabetes and the metabolic syndrome.” Further, the IDF reported earlier this year that 40% of OSA patients have diabetes.
And the Wisconsin Sleep Cohort, reporting on an 18 year study which included 1,387 subjects, showed a significant link between OSA and Type 2 diabetes.
The consequences of OSA should be of concern to every person with diabetes: insulin resistance, glucose intolerance, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, stroke and depression.
Physiological stress associated with OSA may be involved in insulin resistance due to one or more of the following biological mechanisms:
- Increased level of sympathetic nervous system activation
- Increased levels of cortisol
- Direct effects of oxygen desaturations (hypoxia)
- Increase in leptin/decrease of adiponectin
- Abnormal sleep architecture
Fortunately, a common and non-invasive treatment for sleep apnea appears to be helpful. People who use continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) for 4 hours or more per night, show an improvement in insulin sensitivity and a significant reduction in hemoglobin A1c levels (an important factor in determining how well the patient is managing their diabetes).
So, if you snore at night and feel exhausted during the day, it could be sleep apnea … and it could be your diabetes getting worse. Click here for more information about diabetes and sleep apnea.
Stevedawg
Not too surprising. Sleep breathing problems can definitely cause glucose intolerance. The 58% figure with diabetics having OSA is probably much higher if you take into consideration everyone with milder forms of obstructions and arousals that don’t officially get scored as an apnea. If you stop breathing 25 times every hour but wake up after 9 seconds each, then your official apnea score (AHI) is 0. These are basic issues that I talk about in my book, Sleep, Interrupted: A physician reveals the #1 reason why so many of us are sick and tired.
Don’t be surprised to see other studies linking sleep-breathing problems with hypertension (already proven), stroke (already proven), heart disease (proven), hypothyroidism, IBS, cold hands and feet, migraines, ADHD (strong association), depression/anxiety, and many others.
By: Steven Park, MD on October 3, 2008
at 2:54 am
[...] came across this blog that mentioned that the International Diabetes Federation did a study which showed that 58% of [...]
By: 58% of Diabetics Have Obstructive Sleep Apnea : Dr. Steven Y. Park on October 3, 2008
at 3:16 am
My husband, a dentist has had some health challenges that seem to defy logic. He has always been an athlete, eaten well, and comes from a healthy family with longevity and yet has A-fib and resulting TIA’s. After “snoring” for years he was finally evaluated for and diagnosed with sleep apnea. The CPAP is a godsend. He has now begun studying OSA and screening, first asking questions and then offering a home monitor which is about 95% accurate.
The dental office is a great place to start for several reasons. Dentists see their patients every 6 months,have more time to spend with a patient than a PCP and There are clues in the anatomy of the jaw and neck which dentists are very aware of.
As we become more aware and take a more global approach to health care and promoting wellness, I think more people will be evaluated and treated for sleep related disorders. I think the toll that sleep apnea takes is far higher than just diabetes and heart disease. Much like the stress that I treat with guided imagery and hypnotherapy, treating sleep apnea can have a huge impact on health, wellness and the cost of health care.
By: Sharon M. O'Connor, RN on October 3, 2008
at 9:14 pm