Diabetes Linked to Sleep Apnea Problems
Persons with type 2 diabetes who drag themselves through the day may be among the 36 percent of diabetics suffering from obstructive sleep apnea, according to a study in the medical journal Endocrine Practice.
Sleep apnea occurs when impaired breathing due to collapsed airways triggers multiple nighttime awakenings.
According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), diabetes is a disease in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin. Insulin is a hormone that is needed to convert sugar, starches, and other food into energy needed for daily life.
The cause of diabetes continues to be a mystery, although both genetics and environmental factors such as obesity and lack of exercise appear to play roles.
There are 20.8 million children and adults in the US, or 7 percent of the population, who have diabetes.
While an estimated 14.6 million have been diagnosed with diabetes, 6.2 million people (or nearly one-third) are unaware that they have the disease, states the ADA.
Researchers at the Whittier Institute for Diabetes analyzed health data from 279 adults with type 2 diabetes.
They found that one out of three diabetics also suffered from obstructive sleep apnea.
Men, particularly those over the age of 62, were more than twice as likely as women to experience interrupted sleep.
The National Sleep Foundation estimates that more than 18 million people suffer from obstructive sleep apnea, although the majority of people have not been diagnosed with the disorder.
Obstructive sleep apnea is related to a multitude of health risks, including heart disease, high blood pressure, depression, sexual dysfunction, and an increased risk of car accidents.
Previous research has indicated a relationship between obstructive sleep apnea, glucose intolerance, and insulin resistance, so the connection with type 2 diabetes is not surprising.
This is the first study to analyze data from both men and women at a diabetes clinic, the researchers say.
"These findings demonstrate that obstructive sleep apnea has a high prevalence in adults with type 2 diabetes," says
principal investigator Dr. Daniel Einhorn.
"Given that treatment of obstructive sleep apnea has the potential to both decrease blood pressure and improve glycemic [blood sugar] control, individuals with type 2 diabetes should be regularly screened for the presence of sleep apnea," he
says.
According
to previous research, treating people who have both
obstructive sleep apnea and type 2 diabetes with "continuous positive airway pressure [C-PAP]" therapy
not only helps manage the sleep interruptions but also
reduces blood sugar levels.
According to the American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery,
nasal continuous positive airway pressure therapy delivers
air into the airway through a specially designed
nasal mask or pillows.
The mask does not breathe for a person. The flow of air creates enough pressure during inhalation to keep the airway open. This therapy is considered the most effective non-surgical treatment for treating snoring and obstructive sleep apnea.
If
it is determined that this treatment is right for an
individual, he or she will
be required to wear the nasal mask every night, says
the Academy.
C-PAP treatment may require a significant change in lifestyle. That change could consist of losing weight, quitting smoking, or adopting a new exercise regimen.
Always consult your physician for more information.
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Sleep apnea is a serious, potentially life-threatening condition that is far more common than generally understood.
Sleep apnea occurs in all age groups and both genders. It is more common in men, although it may be under-diagnosed in women and young African-Americans.
It is estimated that as many as 12 million Americans have sleep apnea.
Early recognition and treatment of sleep apnea is important, as it may be associated with irregular heartbeat, high blood pressure, heart attack, and stroke.
Sleep apnea is a breathing disorder characterized by brief interruptions of breathing during sleep.
There are two types of sleep apnea:
central - occurs when the brain fails to send the appropriate signals to the muscles to initiate breathing. Central sleep apnea is less common than obstructive sleep apnea.
obstructive - occurs when air cannot flow into or out of the person's nose or mouth although efforts to breathe continue.
Sleep apnea seems to run in some families, suggesting a possible genetic basis.
People most likely to have or develop sleep apnea include those who snore loudly, are overweight, have high blood pressure, or have some physical abnormality in the nose, throat, or other parts of the upper airway.
Use of alcohol and sleeping pills increases the frequency and duration of breathing pauses in people with sleep apnea.
Sleep
apnea is characterized by a number of involuntary breathing
pauses or "apneic events" during a single night's sleep
- there may be as many as 20 to 30 or more events per
hour.
These events are almost always accompanied by snoring between apnea episodes (although not everyone who snores has sleep apnea).
Sleep apnea may also be characterized by choking sensations. The frequent interruptions of deep, restorative sleep often lead to early morning headaches and excessive daytime sleepiness.
During the apneic event, the person is unable to breathe in oxygen and to exhale carbon dioxide, resulting in low levels of oxygen and increased levels of carbon dioxide in the blood.
The reduction in oxygen and increase in carbon dioxide alert the brain to resume breathing and cause an arousal.
With each arousal, a signal is sent from the brain to the upper airway muscles to open the airway; breathing is resumed, often with a loud snort or gasp.
Frequent arousals, although necessary for breathing to restart, prevent a person from getting enough restorative, deep sleep.
Always consult your physician for more information.
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