Diabetes as a consequence of sleep apnea
In Switzerland, an estimated 500,000+ people have diabetes and 400,000 people have sleep apnea. The conditions also often occur together: more than half of all people with diabetes suffer from sleep apnea. Around 25% of people with sleep apnea have diabetes mellitus (type 2). That is no coincidence.
Sleep apnea and diabetes are conditions that reinforce each other. Nighttime breathing pauses, a typical symptom of sleep apnea, promote stress reactions, inflammation, and insulin resistance, while excess weight and metabolic disorders encourage the development of obstructive sleep apnea.
Learn more about both conditions on this page.
The link between diabetes and sleep apnea
“The close connection between sleep apnea and diabetes is often underestimated. Nighttime breathing pauses promote insulin resistance and make blood sugar control significantly more difficult. A consistent evaluation and treatment of sleep apnea can therefore be a key building block in holistic diabetes therapy.”
T. Iizuka
What you should know about diabetes and sleep apnea
What causes diabetes?
Among the most common causes of diabetes are excess weight, lack of exercise, and an unbalanced diet. Genetic predisposition, increasing age, chronic stress, and sleep deprivation can also negatively affect glucose metabolism.
What is the difference between type 1 and type 2 diabetes?
The difference between type 1 and type 2 diabetes is quickly explained: type 1 diabetes is caused by an autoimmune reaction and requires lifelong insulin. Type 2 diabetes usually develops gradually and can often be addressed through lifestyle changes. However, medication may also be necessary in type 2 diabetes.
Can treating sleep apnea improve blood sugar?
Yes, treating sleep apnea can improve blood sugar. When sleep apnea is treated consistently, nighttime stress reactions and oxygen deficiency are reduced. This can improve insulin sensitivity, which in turn may lead to more stable blood sugar levels. As a result, some patients may be able to reduce, or even discontinue, their need for diabetes medication.
Is sleep apnea in combination with type 1 diabetes a concern?
Untreated sleep apnea can be concerning in type 1 diabetes, because nighttime stress reactions can affect blood sugar levels and worsen the overall condition.
Can treatment of sleep apnea improve type 2 diabetes?
Treating sleep apnea often has very positive effects on glucose metabolism (and therefore on type 2 diabetes as well).
Diabetes and sleep apnea are an unfortunate combination
Diabetes and sleep apnea influence each other in an unfavorable way.
Nighttime breathing pauses repeatedly lead to oxygen deficiency and stress reactions in the body. Hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol are released, which raise blood sugar levels and impair insulin action. At the same time, sleep interruptions promote inflammatory processes that further intensify insulin resistance.
People with untreated sleep apnea therefore develop type 2 diabetes more often, or struggle to control existing blood sugar levels. Conversely, excess weight, which is common in people with diabetes, promotes the development of obstructive sleep apnea. A dangerous interaction that shows why both conditions should always be viewed and treated together, and why an OSA evaluation should always be carried out in patients with diabetes.