The Important Connection Between Sleep Apnea and Diabetes – We’ll Try Not to Sugar Coat it!

What exactly is the connection between sleep apnea and diabetes?

Diabetes and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) can have a very negative cumulative effect on your health. Sleep apnea causes your body to wake up repeatedly throughout the night, is often associated with low oxygen levels (hypoxemia), and can even increase the carbon dioxide levels (hypercarbia) in your blood. These effects of sleep apnea can cause: insulin resistance, chronic elevated blood pressure, increased risk of heart problems and cardiovascular disease, and early morning headaches.

Interestingly, if you have type 2 diabetes, you’re also more likely to have sleep apnea. Studies report that the prevalence of “obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is 71% in patients with type 2 diabetes.” That’s huge! Going one step further, just having sleep apnea increases the severity of type 2 diabetes independent of age and obesity.

Why should you be concerned about diabetes?

Nearly “30 million Americans live with diabetes” and it is the 7th leading cause of death in the United States. In addition, diabetes can cause slow healing, nerve damage, increased susceptibility to infections, and kidney disease.

What can you do?

If you have type 2 diabetes and suspect you have sleep apnea, DON’T WAIT! As Dr. Einhorn, Medical Director of Scripps Whittier Institute for Diabetes, warns, “sleep apnea can decrease quality of life . . . It can also worsen diabetes and increase the risk of developing it or other serious health problems.”

Generally speaking, sleep apnea has detrimental effects on your health, and there isn’t a single good reason to leave it untreated and continue to suffer from this disease.

If you have diabetes and don’t know what to expect with sleep apnea, you should l ook out for any indicators.

How can Ognomy’s services help?

Ognomy allows you to receive diagnosis and treatment for sleep apnea from board-certified physicians through video consultations, and without having to leave the comfort of your home. You don’t ever have to spend a night in a sleep laboratory, you can do it all through your desktop or mobile phone.

For more information or to book a video consultation with an Ognomy sleep doctor, register as a patient today or download the app in AppStore or Google Play.