Today, there are millions of Americans and others who have recently discovered they have sleep disorders, close to half of which afflicted with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). At the same time, several millions more suffering from varied forms of diabetes. But not many information have been provided regarding the connection between the two.
Much has been said about type 2 diabetes being one serious health condition. But not too many inflicted patients could relate their ailment to sleep apnea. While the connection between both is still being thoroughly studied, there is a great need to keep people informed about the likelihood that the sleep disorder could contribute to type 2 diabetes.
The likely relationship starts when OSA-afflicted people fail to get quality sleep and results to sporadic hypoxemia. Left untreated, OSA paves way for dysregulation of glucose, among other abnormal body processes relating to diabetes conditions. After a long period of suffering from OSA, it’s then considered highly likely that the patient will contract diabetes.
For one, researches on OSA estimated that over 38% of people suffering from this sleep disorder are likely to have diabetes. This is very alarming since over 83% of those afflicted are classified to have OSA. More so, this specific sleep apnea condition has been found to have negative effects on glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes. Being so, we have higher prevalence of OSA among diabetic patients and an even more distressing prevalence in other sleep disordered breathing.
There are, however, medical researchers bent on proving that obesity is another cause for both diabetes and OSA. In particular, glucose dysregulation caused by OSA contributes to weight gain. But the most recent results point out that being overweight and obese are not as alarming as the connection found between type 2 diabetes and obstructive sleep apnea. In fact, most cases have obliterated issues of obesity and excessive body weight in the relations of diabetes and OSA.
With all these, calls for more intensive studies on the connection between sleep apnea and diabetes. For one, the International Diabetes Federation admits the close relations of both ailments, and continues to seek answers to addressing both, whether it’s medications or preventive measures. While both OSA and diabetes has no found cure for now, both can be controlled and managed.
For as long as the patient knows he has both conditions and seek immediate medical attention, there’s a great chance for a long, quality life ahead.
