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Sleep apnea linked to type 2 diabetes

Category: Diabetes

According to a recent study, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a disorder characterized by pauses in breathing during sleep, may adversely affect glucose control in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Researchers at the University of Chicago recruited 60 patients with type 2 diabetes from outpatient clinics and found that 77 percent of participants had OSA, while only a few had been previously diagnosed with the disorder.

The study also discovered that patients experiencing more severe OSA had poorer glucose control. Mild, moderate and severe cases of OSA were directly correlated to glucose levels in the blood.

In diabetic patients diagnosed with the disorder, approximately 13 percent had severe OSA, 38 percent were classified as having mild OSA and 25 percent had moderate OSA.

"Our findings have important clinical implications as they support the hypothesis that reducing the severity of OSA may improve glycemic control," said Renee Aronsohn, lead author of the study.

"Thus effective treatment of OSA may represent a novel and non-pharmacologic intervention in the management of type 2 diabetes," she added.