Diabetes and Sleep Apnea Link

MT. LAUREL, N.J.DiabetesCare.net Healthcare Advisory Board member Gary D. Foster, Ph.D., who also serves as professor of medicine and Public Health and the director of the Center for Obesity Research and Education at Temple University, wrote an article for the DiabetesCare.net Web site, "Obstructive Sleep Apnea and DiabetesWhat We Know and What Can Be Done?"

In his article, Foster describes the risk factors and treatment for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) with a focus on its relationship to type 2 diabetes. "There is increasing attention to the causes, consequences, and treatment of OSA," Foster said. "OSA is a condition that millions of Americans suffer from, many without knowing it."

Specifically, Foster points out OSA is associated with impaired fasting glucose, glucose intolerance and type 2 diabetes, even after accounting age, sex, waist circumference and obesity. He added: "A recent comprehensive literature review, comprised of 83 studies, found among all of the sleep disorders, OSA has the strongest association with type 2 diabetes. It is possible that the relationship goes in both directions. Poor sleep quality and intermittent hypoxemia from OSA may serve as the catalyst for glucose dysregulation. Over time these abnormalities may accelerate weight gain, which increases the severity of OSA."

Foster also discusses treatment options for OSA, including continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), oral appliances, surgery and weight loss. The full article is available here.