Advertisement
Manage your sleep apnea and keep your diabetes in check
By Andrea Harris and Sue Cotey, RNs
Advertisement
Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy
Do you snore? Do you feel fatigued every day? Do you wake up frequently throughout the night? It may be that the shallow breathing or breaks in breathing caused by sleep apnea are the reason. If you have diabetes, it is critical to manage your sleep apnea. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), approximately 18 million people have sleep apnea, with up to 80 percent of people undiagnosed.
If you have diabetes, sleep apnea can make it more difficult to manage your diabetes. This is because when your breathing pauses while you sleep, there is an increase in carbon dioxide in your blood. This leads to:
Inadequate rest or sleep can also lead to lack of motivation to exercise or plan meals. This often leads to irritability, which can affect relationships with family, friends and coworkers. Sleepiness also can cause people to forget to take their medications and lead to further diabetes complications.
Sleep apnea may be genetically linked and it is most commonly found in those who have a BMI > 25 (have overweight) or > 30 (have obesity), people who smoke and are over the age of 40.
Advertisement
There are different types of sleep apnea, one of which is obstructive sleep apnea (or OSA), which is when breathing is interrupted by a physical block to airflow. With OSA, snoring is common. The NIH reports that 12 million Americans have OSA, and for people with type 2 diabetes it is a common condition to have.
Research shows that an increase in severity of OSA is correlated with poorer glucose control. If you have diabetes and have the following symptoms, you should talk to your doctor about doing a sleep study to learn if you have sleep apnea:
To diagnose sleep apnea, you can undergo a sleep test called a polysomnogram, which is a test that records body functions while you sleep. The test measures eye movements, electrical brain activity, muscle activity, heart rate, breathing and blood oxygen levels.
Sleep apnea can be treated with CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure). This is a mask that you wear over the nose and mouth when you sleep. Air pressure from the machine forces air through the nose. This keeps the throat from closing during sleep. Another option to manage your condition is an implantable nerve stimulator, which was recently approved for sleep apnea treatment by the Food and Drug Administration.
If you have diabetes, the bottom line is you want to know if you have sleep apnea, because you need to manage the sleep apnea in order to manage your diabetes. Not to mention, you will feel so much better with a good night’s rest!
Advertisement
Learn more about our editorial process.
Advertisement
Some statins have been shown to slightly increase your risk of diabetes — but that shouldn’t keep you from taking the medication you need
This diabetes medication can treat obesity, but it’s not for people who just want to drop a few pounds
Stress, weight gain and forgetfulness are just a few effects of losing sleep
With a sweet, tangy flavor, this tropical fruit is super versatile and high in antioxidants
There are better breakfast options, but if it’s got to be cereal, look for whole grains, high fiber and no added sugar
Planning ahead, checking in with your care team and being vigilant about blood sugar monitoring can help ensure a safe fast
A diabetes diagnosis, new or long-standing, can trigger reactions like grief, stress, depression and frustration, but symptom relief and help are available
Type 1 diabetes happens when your body doesn’t make insulin, while Type 2 happens when your body can’t use insulin properly
Focus on your body’s metabolic set point by eating healthy foods, making exercise a part of your routine and reducing stress
PFAS chemicals may make life easier — but they aren’t always so easy on the human body
While there’s little risk in trying this hair care treatment, there isn’t much science to back up the claims