Does How You Sleep Cause Diabetes?

Sleep apnea, which stops a person from breathing for brief periods while they sleep, can increase a young man's chance of getting Type 2 diabetes, a new study published in Diabetes Care reports.
Previous research has provided links between sleep apnea and Type 2 diabetes, but this is the first study that makes a link for healthy men with no other diabetic risk factors.
The study was conducted at McGill university with 12 men aged 18 to 30 with sleep apnea were compared to a control group of 20 men. All of the men in the study group were similar in terms of age, body mass index, ethnicity-based diabetes risk, levels of exercise, and family history of Type 2 diabetes. Both groups had normal blood pressure and cholesterol levels. After eating, men who have sleep apnea had a 27% lower insulin sensitivity and a higher total insulin secretion than the control group.
Past research made the connection between sleep apnea and Type 2 diabetes because obesity is a risk factor for both conditions. Researchers may have found a link between sleep apnea and insulin resistance because of viseral fat that can contribute to both conditions.
More than 12 million Americans have sleep apnea, and most do not know they have the condition. Symptoms include snoring, daytime sleepiness, and chronic exhaustion. The only way to be diagnosed with sleep apnea is to be studied that records your breathing patterns, eye movements, and brain activity while you sleep.
Men over the age of 65 are typically affected, but a family history of the condition, airway abnormalities, alcohol use, and smoking can increase your risk. Certain ethnicities, like being African-American or Hispanic, also predisposes you to the condition.
Often, lifestyle changes that are associated with Type 2 diabetes are also effective with sleep apnea: losing weight and exercising more. Avoid alcohol before bed as that causes a relaxed tongue during sleep.
If you are a diabetic and do not currently see a podiatrist, call our Bristol office to make an appointment.
Richard E. Ehle, DPM
Connecticut Foot Care Centers
Diabetic Foot Care in CT
Podiatrist in Bristol, CT
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