Type 2 diabetes and sleep apnea are two common health conditions that often go hand in hand. While they may seem unrelated at first, research has shown a strong connection between the two. Understanding this link is important, as treating one condition can often improve the other and lead to better overall health.
What is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts throughout the night. The most common type, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), occurs when the airway becomes blocked, usually due to relaxed throat muscles. Symptoms include loud snoring, gasping for air, frequent awakenings, and excessive daytime sleepiness. Left untreated, sleep apnea can contribute to serious health issues like high blood pressure, heart disease, and diabetes.
How Sleep Apnea and Type 2 Diabetes Are Connected
People with type 2 diabetes are more likely to have sleep apnea, and vice versa. The relationship works both ways:
- Insulin resistance: Sleep apnea causes drops in oxygen levels and fragmented sleep. These interruptions can lead to insulin resistance, making it harder for the body to regulate blood sugar.
- Weight factor: Obesity is a common risk factor for both sleep apnea and type 2 diabetes. Extra weight, particularly around the neck and abdomen, increases the risk of airway obstruction and worsens insulin resistance.
- Inflammation and stress hormones: Poor sleep quality raises stress hormones like cortisol, which can elevate blood sugar levels and contribute to long-term complications.
Studies suggest that as many as 50 to 80 percent of people with type 2 diabetes may also have sleep apnea, many of them undiagnosed.
Why This Connection Matters
When sleep apnea goes untreated in people with diabetes, it can make blood sugar levels much harder to control. This increases the risk of complications such as nerve damage, kidney disease, vision problems, and cardiovascular issues. On the other hand, treating sleep apnea can improve insulin sensitivity, making diabetes management easier and more effective.
Treatment Options
The good news is that both conditions can be managed, and treatment for one can often benefit the other:
- Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP): This is the most common treatment for sleep apnea. Wearing a CPAP machine at night keeps the airway open, improving oxygen flow and sleep quality. Better sleep can help regulate blood sugar levels.
- Weight management: Losing weight, even modestly, can significantly improve both sleep apnea symptoms and blood sugar control.
- Lifestyle changes: Regular exercise, a balanced diet, limiting alcohol, and avoiding smoking can help with both conditions.
- Medical care: Regular checkups with your doctor, dentist, or sleep specialist are essential to monitor progress and adjust treatment plans.
Type 2 diabetes and sleep apnea are closely linked, each making the other harder to manage. If you have diabetes and struggle with poor sleep, snoring, or constant fatigue, it may be worth discussing a sleep study with your healthcare provider. By addressing both conditions, you’ll not only sleep better but also take meaningful steps toward protecting your long-term health.
About the Practice
At Beck Dental Care of Columbia, your health matters to us. If you’re not getting the rest you deserve because of sleep apnea, we have solutions to help you, like our non-intrusive, comfortable oral sleep appliances. Simply wearing one of these devices will keep you breathing normally during the night and allow you to get the sleep you need. Ready to get started? Simply schedule an appointment online or call us at (931) 388-8452.