Question
I even have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and sleep apnea. Is there a connection between the 2?
Oh There’s a definite link between type 2 diabetes and obstructive sleep apnea: If you are obese, you are at an increased risk of developing each conditions. But it’s an unsolved query whether lack of sleep itself can increase your probabilities of developing type 2 diabetes.
Type 2 diabetes, probably the most common type of diabetes, normally develops during adolescence in obese people. Being obese makes cells immune to the consequences of insulin, a hormone that moves sugar (glucose) from the blood into the cells. This is often called insulin resistance.
When cells resist the consequences of insulin, sugar builds up within the blood. If this happens persistently, type 2 diabetes develops.
Obstructive sleep apnea occurs since the upper airway — specifically the back of the throat and tongue — relaxes an excessive amount of during sleep. It causes frequent interruptions in respiration. Oxygen levels within the blood may drop because airflow to the lungs is blocked. There is a few evidence from animal and human studies that sleep deprivation also causes chemical changes that result in insulin resistance.
If you’ve type 2 diabetes and are obese, you might help control the condition by shedding pounds. In fact, I even have patients who’ve normalized their blood sugar just by lowering it. Losing weight also can help with insomnia.
So while it’s unclear whether sleep deprivation and diabetes are linked, it’s clear that shedding pounds when you’re heavy is linked to higher control of each conditions. In addition, some research suggests that folks with type 2 diabetes can reduce insulin resistance and improve blood sugar control by treating their sleep apnea with CPAP.
Photo: © Artit_Wongpradu/Getty Images