Sleep Apnea Linked to Increased Chances of Diabetes

People who suffer from obstructive sleep apnea could have increased risks of developing diabetes according to a new study of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). The research shows that there’s a link between those who suffer from sleep apnea and diabetes possibly because of the metabolic transformations caused by the disorder’s increasing insulin resistance. The study made note that this is especially true of people who already have a history of diabetes in their family.

Researchers explained that low-quality sleep—a chronic problem for those who suffer from sleep apnea due to the heartbeat and breathing disruptions—can increase weight gain in patients. This is because lack of sleep can trigger the brain to transmit a signal that results in boosts in appetite and carbohydrate cravings. Additionally, sleep apnea may increase levels in cholesterol, triglycerides, and hypertension.

Other factors that may exacerbate sleep troubles and thus lead to an increased diabetes risk include using electronic devices in bed or near bedtime, not getting adequate sleep, or not burning high levels of oxygen during intense aerobic exercise—another complication linked to patients with sleep apnea.

It’s important that anyone suffering from sleep apnea, especially those with other risk factors for diabetes, visit a sleep clinic like FusionSleep for a proper diagnosis and treatment plan. There are other elements that could be hindering sleep like the use of electronic devices in bed or near bedtime because of the way the brain reacts to light.

While it is always recommended that people get an adequate amount of sleep each night, there’s no magic number of hours that work for everyone. It’s the quality of sleep that’s essential to perform daily tasks, and so it’s important that people figure out how much sleep they need to feel rested.

Sleep isn’t always something that just happens, but by focusing on your sleep health, you can possibly decrease your chances of developing diabetes and other diseases often caused by sleep apnea and lack of quality sleep.

For more information about obstructive sleep apnea or the ways in which FusionSleep can help you, schedule an appointment with our sleep specialists.