Diabetes & Sleep Apnea

Over 50% of patients with type 2 diabetes also suffer from sleep apnea. Diabetes and sleep apnea share some common risk factors, including male gender, advanced age, and obesity.

Studies have shown that sleep apnea can also affect the body’s ability to use glucose and insulin. While obesity is a contributing factor to both sleep apnea and type 2 diabetes, studies have shown that sleep apnea affects glucose and insulin levels even in people who are not overweight. Treating sleep apnea may help patients manage glucose levels.

DIABETES OPINION LEADERS HIGHLIGHT THE CONNECTION

The International Diabetes Federation (IDF), a global alliance of diabetes associations, recently released a Consensus Statement on sleep apnea and type 2 diabetes. This statement recommends that when healthcare providers see patients with type 2 diabetes, they should be aware that those people may also have sleep apnea.

In fact, more doctors and diabetes educators are beginning to screen patients with type 2 diabetes for sleep apnea. At your next visit, you may be asked questions like:

• Do you snore?
• Do you feel tired during the day?
• Do you wake up with headaches?

The answers to these questions can determine whether you might have a sleep problem. If you answer “yes” to these and other questions, your doctor may decide that you need a sleep study. 

Janice Baker, Certified Diabetes Educator,
on Sleep Apnea and Type 2 Diabetes