Obstructive sleep
apnea (OSA) may spur a dangerous craving for carbohydrates among people
with type 2 diabetes, according to a recent study that was formally presented
this week at the annual meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies.
OSA has already been
associated with an increased risk for diabetes, but this new study suggests
that primary care physicians should consider screening for OSA in patients who
have type 2 diabetes, according to the study’s authors.
“Previous studies have
shown that sleep deprivation may lead to changes in hormones that regulate
appetite and hunger,” said Dr. Mahmood Siddique, a clinical associate professor
of medicine at the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in New Jersey, in a news
release. “These hormonal changes can lead to significant craving for
high-calorie carbohydrates such as cookies, candy, breads, rice and potatoes.”
Unrestricted
carbohydrates of this nature can be especially harmful to diabetics.
Researchers found that diabetics with diagnosed sleep apnea were almost two
times more likely to have high carbohydrate cravings as patients without sleep
apnea.
The study focused on 55
people who were tested for diabetes, OSA and carbohydrate cravings. More than
half of the group had type 2 diabetes, and 82 percent of the diabetics suffered
from OSA; the diabetic patients sampled had nearly double the risk of
carbohydrate cravings.
Although the research
did not establish a direct cause-and-effect link, the study did indicate the
importance of considering sleep apnea as a key risk factor in regulating blood
sugar among those with diabetes.
Obstructive sleep apnea
has been associated with a wide range of health problems, but the field of dental sleep
medicine offers a number of treatments beyond the traditional continuous
positive airway pressure (CPAP) devices. Many patients have found success with
oral appliances, which are more comfortable to wear than CPAP.