Sleep apnea is involved in diabetes
Sleep apnea, or commonly referred to by doctors as “sleep apnea syndrome,” is the frequent occurrence of pauses in breathing during sleep . They are often favored by being overweight and result in repeated episodes of obstruction of the respiratory tracts in the back of the throat .
Consequences of sleep apnea
The consequences of a sleep apnea syndrome are most often reflected at the cardiovascular level. But it would seem that they are also involved in the onset of diabetes.
Researchers from McGill University in Quebec were interested in the results of sleep apnea control on the diabetes process. They focused more specifically on the control of these in the event of pre-diabetes. Recall that pre-diabetes is an abnormal rise in blood sugar levels, but not to a high enough to declare diabetes .
The study, published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine , was conducted on a group of obese or overweight adults with sleep apnea syndrome. The 1st half received treatment with nocturnal respiratory support for 8 hours each night, called continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), while the 2nd half received a placebo. The people studied go about their usual occupations the rest of the day.
Study results
The results showed that treating sleep apnea from pre-diabetes onwards slowed the process of progression to confirmed diabetes. Indeed, it has been observed in people who received CPAP treatment an improvement in certain elements such as blood pressure, blood sugar, insulin resistance, or even a decrease in the stress hormone.
The researchers therefore conclude that the quality of sleep in pre-diabetics is therefore very important. Indeed, they recommend placing pre-diabetics on nocturnal ventilation by continuous positive pressure at the first signs of sleep apnea syndrome. This behavior would allow, according to their conclusions, and those of previous studies, to slow down the progression of the disease towards confirmed diabetes, and to restore a better quality of life to the patients . It should be noted that sleep apnea often causes patients to experience daytime sleepiness and lack of concentration.
Of course, this treatment, in addition to improving diabetes, also reduces risk factors for other diseases such as cardiovascular disease.
Stephen Paul is the lead author and founder of My Health Sponsor. Holder of a diploma in health and well-being coaching with more than 200 articles in the field of health, he makes it a point of honor to offer advice based on reliable information, based on scientific research, and verified by health professionals.