Diabetes and sleep

Diabetes — more than 25 million children and adults in the USA have type 2 diabetes. Complications of diabetes include:

- Stroke

- Heart Disease

- Blindness

- High Blood Pressure

- Kidney Disease

- Neuropathy

- Amputation

The economic costs of diabetes include over $176 billion in direct medical costs; reduced productivity exceeds $70 billion.

Diabetes

Diabetes results in excess sugar (glucose) in the blood. It’s caused by damage to insulin producing cells. Insulin is the hormone that the human body uses to regulate how our bodies process carbohydrates and fats. Glucose is the fuel that makes our bodies run. Insulin causes tissue to absorb the glucose. It protects our body; it prevents excess glucose in our blood stream which is dangerous. Diabetes can lead to death.

There are different types of diabetes. Type 1 (juvenile diabetes) is when the body doesn’t have cells which produce insulin. It usually results from an autoimmune disorder which destroys or damages insulin producing cells. Type 1 diabetes can usually be managed with insulin injections or with an insulin pump.

In type 2 diabetes (adult-onset), the body doesn’t use insulin properly. Type 2 diabetes is increasing in children with the rise in the rate of obesity in kids. Mild type 2 diabetes can be managed with diet. Serious cases need prescribed drugs. Another type of diabetes is gestational diabetes and occurs sometimes during pregnancy.

The Connection With Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a chronic condition which results in fragmented sleep from breathing pauses during sleep and arousals from sleep when breathing restarts. Just like consequences of diabetes, untreated OSA consequences are serious and life-threatening. OSA can be treated using a variety of different therapies: weight loss, sleep position, oral appliances, and CPAP. The connection between OSA & diabetes is the subject of medical research projects that suggest a strong association between the two. It’s so strong that the International Diabetes Federation and the American Academy of Sleep Medicine suggest that people with either OSA or diabetes should be tested for the other condition.

There is evidence that treating OSA can reduce insulin resistance. Also, getting healthy sleep throughout life can prevent or reduce diabetes.

So…

If you have diabetes, you should have a sleep test if you have any OSA symptoms and visa versa.

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Dr. Donald Johnson founded Northwest Treatment Center for Snoring & Sleep Apnea in Coeur d’Alene to help patients stop their snoring and live free with no limits! Obstructive sleep apnea is usually able to be treated with a small oral appliance. Dr. Johnson’s office is at 114 W. Neider Ave., near Costco. The website for more information is www.NWSleepDoc.com and the office phone is (208) 667-4551. Schedule a free consultation appointment today!