Friday, February 28, 2014

Can Sleep Apnea Make Diabetes Worse?

Weight gain and/or being overweight is one of the most common risk factors for type 2 diabetes. Now, a new study in the medical journal Diabetes Care supports prior research indicating that sleep apnea, another condition aggravated by excess weight, can increase the likelihood of complications in patients with diabetes.

Sleep apnea and diabetes have been linked in earlier studies. Researchers have found that the lapses in breathing during sleep caused by apnea disrupt the body’s ability to control blood sugar levels. Because diabetes patients already struggle to regulate their blood sugar, sleep apnea could exacerbate this problem even further.

Because of this evidence, patients who have or are at risk of developing diabetes should be aware of the symptoms of sleep apnea. One of the earliest signs is severe snoring, potentially followed by:
  • Daytime fatigue
  • Sore, dry throat when first waking up
  • Changes in mood
  • Nocturia (regularly waking up to urinate during the night)
An increasing number of doctors have reported that weight loss and exercise can help alleviate the severity of sleep apnea. Patients with diabetes also benefit from adherence to a fitness regimen, which can help control weight, lower blood pressure, and train the body to manage blood sugar levels better.

If you suffer from sleep apnea, please contact a qualifiedsleep doctor in your area or call 1-866-727-6275 (1-8-NO-PAP-MASK) to find out more about treatment options.

http://www.ihateheadaches.org/