One-Third of Diabetics Have Sleep Apnea

I am 61. I was diagnosed with Type II diabetes last year. I have had high blood pressure for 15 years. I am 90 lbs. over weight. Now my doctor thinks I may have sleep apnea. It appears that I am high risk. I am scheduling a sleep study in the next month or two.

According to an article in Reuters Health Day on July 30,2007 based on an article in the journal, Endocrine Practice, one out of three people with diabetes may also be suffering from sleep apnea.

People 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 new research.

Sleep apnea occurs when impaired breathing due to collapsed airways triggers multiple nighttime awakenings.

Researchers at The Whittier Institute for Diabetes in La Jolla, Calif., 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.

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 said.

"These findings demonstrate that obstructive sleep apnea has a high prevalence in adults with type 2 diabetes," principal investigator Dr. Daniel Einhorn said in a prepared statement. "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 said.

People with sleep apnea suffer from troubling symptoms such as fatigue, poor concentration, irritability, anxiety, apprehensiveness, depression, and may have poor job performance, more traffic accidents, etc.

There is good treatment available so quality of life can be improved.

Link: Medline. Plus: One-Third of Diabetics Have Sleep Apnea.

Comments

[Benjamin]

I have been trying to document my struggle with sleep apnea for the last 20 years. I believe that it has had many adverse effects on my life. I recently was able to get a BiPap machine, the mojority of the cost was paid by me, my insurance picked up a small amount. I wouldnt with severe apnea on my worst enemie and especially not on their family.

[Dr. Jonathan Greenburg]

Thank you for sharing your life and your own research with us here on your blog. I am a doctor that does sleep studies and treats Sleep Apnea patients.

You have done yourself and your family a great service by taking the steps to treat your sleep apnea. The risk you run by not treating it can be very dangerous if not fatal because of the risk of heart attacks and stroke.

I commend you on getting help. If anyone you know is near the Los Angeles area, and needs treatment, please let me know. I will give them a free consulation.

Dr. Jonathan Greenburg
http://www.apnea-treatment.com

[Stephen]

The connection has to be partly due to the fact that most diabetics are overweight, and overweight people are more likely to have apnea. But, my gut tells me that there is more to it than this.

[snoring solutions]

Seems like the connection may be with being overweight as was mentioned. I know for me it would make a difference if ai lost some lbs. It may be the sleep apnea/snoring solution that I need.

Thanks for the information.

[Steve]

Sleep Apnea is nothing to fool with. I have been using a C-Pap machine and i have to say i feel so much better

Steve www.sellmydiabeticteststrips.com