OSA and Diabetes

If you have difficulty controlling your blood sugar levels, snore loudly, sleep poorly, awaken frequently and feel tired and sleepy during the day, you may have sleep apnea or sleep disordered breathing.

Sleep apnea is a condition in which a person stops breathing during their sleep.

New studies have shown a link between poorly controlled blood glucose levels and sleep apnea.

Diabetes now affects more than 7% of Americans, and sleep apnea affects approximately 5%. Diabetes and sleep apnea frequently co-exist, since obesity is a risk factor common to both of them. The relationship between sleep disordered breathing and diabetes has been recognized for decades, with snoring and sleep apnea being implicated in the development of glucose intolerance and/or insulin resistance.

CPAP treatment can improve glucose control in diabetics, particularly poorly-controlled diabetics, just as it can improve blood pressure control in people with hypertension.