Are Sleep Apnea and Type 2 Diabetes Linked?

Did you know that around 48% of people with type 2 diabetes also suffer from sleep apnea? These two conditions may not seem like they have much in common, but the connection between them is much stronger than you might realize. Understanding this relationship is critical for keeping both of these oral health issues under control. Here’s a closer look at the relationship between type 2 diabetes and sleep apnea.

How Can Sleep Apnea Contribute to Type 2 Diabetes?

Having sleep apnea means that your breathing is constantly being interrupted while you sleep. This forces your body to repeatedly awaken throughout the night, causing the quality of your sleep to suffer. But this isn’t the only unfortunate effect that sleep apnea can have on your health.

When your breathing is interrupted, your blood oxygen levels will fall, and carbon dioxide levels will go up. This leads to your cells becoming more resistant to insulin. Consequently, your blood sugar levels will go up significantly, which can eventually lead to type 2 diabetes.

How Else Can Sleep Apnea and Type 2 Diabetes Be Linked?

One other key connection between sleep apnea and type 2 diabetes is that both are often related to obesity. If you’re overweight, there’s a bigger chance of fat deposits in your neck obstructing your airway while you sleep, which can often lead to sleep apnea episodes. Meanwhile, research shows that obese people are 80 times more likely to suffer from type 2 diabetes at some point.

How Can You Deal with Sleep Apnea When You Also Have Type 2 Diabetes?

Getting sleep apnea under control becomes even more important if you have also been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Here are some steps that can help:

• Talk to a sleep dentist about having a sleep oral appliance made. This simple device can help you maintain an open airway by changing the position of the jaw and stopping the tongue from blocking the throat.
• Take steps to lose weight. In many cases, this can go a long way toward reducing the chances of your breathing being interrupted while you sleep.
• Be mindful of allergies or sinus problems that can lead to congestion, which can sometimes contribute to sleep apnea.
• Think about ways you can improve the quality of your sleep in general. For example, you can adjust the temperature in your bedroom to make it easier to fall asleep.

Sleep apnea and type 2 diabetes are dangerous enough on their own, so if you’ve been diagnosed with both of them, it’s extremely important to be proactive about getting the care you need to avoid severe complications.

About the Author

Dr. Stephen Dean is dedicated to helping patients with sleep apnea enjoy a higher quality of life with oral appliance therapy. He wants to be able to offer his patients truly modern care, and to that end, he has completed a number of advanced courses on sleep apnea therapy. To schedule a consultation with Dr. Dean at Covington Sleep Center, visit his website or call (770) 710-5268.