Addressing Signs Of Sleep Apnea Can Improve Your Glucose Levels

Diabetes and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are medical conditions that often coexist.

OSA is a breathing disorder that occurs when the mouth and throat relax during sleep, and block the sleeper’s airway for several seconds. These pauses in breathing can happen more than 100 times every hour in severe cases.

The two conditions - diabetes and OSA - have the common risk factors of obesity and smoking, and both are associated with hypertension, insulin resistance, and a greater chance for developing serious cardiovascular problems.

OSA Symptoms

Since diabetes and OSA are each linked with increased risk for cardiovascular disease, it’s possible having both conditions could exacerbate the risk. So, those with diabetes should know the signs of sleep apnea and take them seriously:

  • Snoring. We should listen to our spouse or partner if they complain about loud, chronic snoring. Even occasional snoring is a mild type of airway obstruction; loud and persistent snoring may indicate a severer airway blockage.
  • Gasping. We should listen to our spouse or partner if they notice we’re having difficulty breathing at night. Oxygen levels drop during breathing pauses, signaling the brain to wake up and take a breath. This causes sleepers to gasp, choke, or snort as they try to draw in adequate air.
  • High BP. OSA causes elevated adrenaline release during the night, contributing to increased blood pressure and heart rate. Over time, this can lead to higher blood pressure during the day as well.
  • Fatigue. If we spend seven to nine hours in bed most nights, but are chronically fatigued or sleepy during the day, it may be a sign of sleep apnea.
  • Headaches. Frequent morning headaches can occur when oxygen levels in the brain decrease owed to pauses in breathing. Studies suggest severe OSA is associated with more frequent, and persistent a.m. headaches.
  • Bathroom Visits. Nocturia, or frequent nighttime urination, is a classic symptom of sleep apnea. It occurs because the fight-or-flight response triggered by OSA also creates a sensation of fullness in the bladder.
  • Insomnia. Sleep apnea and insomnia are common bedfellows. This is likely owed to the elevated adrenaline associated with OSA making it harder for those who awaken to drift off again.
  • When insomnia (insufficient sleep) coexists with OSA (non-restful sleep) there is naturally an increased negative impact on our ability to function well, and cope with everyday stress.
  • Weight. Up to 67 percent of those with OSA are overweight. As weight increases, so do the pads of fat around our windpipe. This narrows the airway, making it harder to breathe. Weight loss does not typically cure sleep apnea, but generally reduces the symptoms.

An estimated 18 million people in the U.S. are living with sleep apnea; many may be undiagnosed. Men are more likely to have this condition, but the incidence for women increases following menopause when hormone changes alter muscle tone, making it more likely the airway will narrow during sleep.


Better Sleep, Better Glucose Levels

According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM), individuals with type 2 diabetes are “much more likely” to have OSA, and they recommend people with diabetes be evaluated for the disorder. Doing so may not only have a positive effect on quality of sleep, but on glucose management, and daily functioning as well.

“Treating sleep apnea in diabetics improves nighttime glucose levels and insulin sensitivity,” said AASM’s Dr. M. Safwan Badr. “Treatment also will provide benefits of improved sleep unrelated to diabetes – including increased alertness during the day and improved memory and cognitive function.”

Sources: American Diabetes Assoc; Diabetes Journals; AASM; AARP
Photo credit: Mic445


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