Written by David Volpi, M.D., P.C., F.A.C.S.
It’s no secret that sleep apnea can lead to a long list of medical conditions, and worsen existing ones. Medical experts are now adding diabetes to the list. According to a new study published in February on the American Diabetes Association’s Diabetes Care website, sleep apnea can worsen Type 2 diabetes in some patients.
Sleep apnea is a potentially life threatening sleep disorder that’s caused when the muscles of the throat collapse during sleep. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is the most common type of sleep apnea and also the most serious because it causes the soft tissue in the palate, throat, or tongue to “obstruct” the flow of air as a person struggles to breathe while they are asleep.
It’swell known that sleep apnea can greatly increase the risk of Type 2 diabetes. But according to Dr. Babak Mokhlesi, author of the new study and the director of the Sleep Disorders Center at the University of Chicago, sleep apnea can worsen blood sugar control in people with Type 2 diabetes because it disrupts the deepest stage of sleep, known as rapid eye movement, or REM.
For the study, Dr. Mokhlesi and his team studied patients with sleep apnea. The participants experienced apneic episodes during REM sleep. While obstructed breathing usually occurs throughout the night in sleep apnea patients, Mokhlesi and his team found that apneic episodes during the REM phase of sleep had the most detrimental effects on long-term blood sugar control.
In a New York Times article, Mokhlesi commented, “Most REM sleep occurs in the early morning hours before waking. But research shows that many patients remove their CPAP mask in the middle of the night because it can feel uncomfortable. As a result, their apnea is more likely to go untreated during REM sleep, a time that may be particularly important for anyone with diabetes.”
I applaud the efforts of Dr. Mokhlesi, and echo his comment regarding the importance of properly using a CPAP mask for the treatment of sleep apnea. If you’re having trouble with your mask, or just not using it, see a qualified sleep disorder doctor and get sized for a new, quieter, and more comfortable one. There are different CPAP masks and units on the market, so don’t settle for living uncomfortably, or going without proper treatment.
Read the full study titled, “Association of Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Rapid Eye Movement Sleep With Reduced Glycemic Control in Type 2 Diabetes: Therapeutic Implications.”
It’s no secret that sleep apnea can lead to a long list of medical conditions, and worsen existing ones. Medical experts are now adding diabetes to the list. According to a new study published in February on the American Diabetes Association’s Diabetes Care website, sleep apnea can worsen Type 2 diabetes in some patients.
Sleep apnea is a potentially life threatening sleep disorder that’s caused when the muscles of the throat collapse during sleep. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is the most common type of sleep apnea and also the most serious because it causes the soft tissue in the palate, throat, or tongue to “obstruct” the flow of air as a person struggles to breathe while they are asleep.
It’swell known that sleep apnea can greatly increase the risk of Type 2 diabetes. But according to Dr. Babak Mokhlesi, author of the new study and the director of the Sleep Disorders Center at the University of Chicago, sleep apnea can worsen blood sugar control in people with Type 2 diabetes because it disrupts the deepest stage of sleep, known as rapid eye movement, or REM.
For the study, Dr. Mokhlesi and his team studied patients with sleep apnea. The participants experienced apneic episodes during REM sleep. While obstructed breathing usually occurs throughout the night in sleep apnea patients, Mokhlesi and his team found that apneic episodes during the REM phase of sleep had the most detrimental effects on long-term blood sugar control.
In a New York Times article, Mokhlesi commented, “Most REM sleep occurs in the early morning hours before waking. But research shows that many patients remove their CPAP mask in the middle of the night because it can feel uncomfortable. As a result, their apnea is more likely to go untreated during REM sleep, a time that may be particularly important for anyone with diabetes.”
I applaud the efforts of Dr. Mokhlesi, and echo his comment regarding the importance of properly using a CPAP mask for the treatment of sleep apnea. If you’re having trouble with your mask, or just not using it, see a qualified sleep disorder doctor and get sized for a new, quieter, and more comfortable one. There are different CPAP masks and units on the market, so don’t settle for living uncomfortably, or going without proper treatment.
Read the full study titled, “Association of Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Rapid Eye Movement Sleep With Reduced Glycemic Control in Type 2 Diabetes: Therapeutic Implications.”
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