Common Symptoms of Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Diabetes

Individuals who struggle with diabetes could very well struggle with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Over the past two decades, an increasing number of research have illuminated the fact that many symptoms of diabetes are common in people with OSA. These similarities include:

• Metabolic conditions

• Obesity

• Glucose intolerance

• Cardiovascular complications

Because both OSA and diabetes present many of the same symptoms, untreated OSA can significantly aggravate diabete’s risk factors if the OSA is left untreated. Fortunately, there are paths to a diagnosis and a variety of OSA treatment options available that can alleviate symptoms and potentially save lives for those suffering from OSA and diabetes.

What is Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea is a condition that occurs when no air enters the lungs when the sleeper expands the chest to inhale. This usually happens because:

1. A sleeper’s tongue falls back against the soft palate

2. Then the soft palate and uvula are pushed against the back of the throat

3. The airway is blocked

Individuals most affected by OSA include those who sleep on their backs and/or are obese, middle-aged, and male. OSA is the most common type of sleep apnea.

To diagnose OSA, an individual must exhibit the presence of sleep-disordered breathing and other symptoms of sleep disruption. A sleep study can be performed to detect these conditions and officially diagnose OSA.

Symptoms of Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Individuals with OSA oftentimes experience:

• Loud snoring

• Breathing cessation during sleeping

• Dry mouth or sore throat upon waking

• Morning headaches

• Daytime sleepiness

• Impaired neuropsychological functioning

• Impaired cognitive functioning

Approximately 12-18 million people in the United States alone suffer from OSA.

Risk Factors of Obstructive Sleep Apnea

In addition to reduced quality of life, those diagnosed with OSA are at-risk for:

• Hypertension (high blood pressure)

• Depression

• Cardiovascular disease

• Impaired glucose metabolism.

Furthermore, recent studies indicate that up to 50% of individuals with OSA have type 2 diabetes. In conjunction, approximately 50% of those with type 2 diabetes have moderate to severe OSA.

Role of Obesity in OSA and Diabetes

The connection between OSA and diabetes has been a known relationship since 1981. A study conducted by PJ Rees concluded that a large percentage of those with diabetes had high incidents of sleep breathing disorders. In the past twenty years, studies have continued to prove prevalence in both OSA and diabetes.

As OSA becomes more severe, diabetics may experience increasing problems with both:

• Insulin resistance

• Glucose intolerance

1 in 3 patients with OSA will develop diabetes. Research suggests that common link between OSA and diabetes stems from obesity. The logic works like this:¹

1. Obese individuals accumulate excess tissue around the neck

2. This excess tissue can lead to obstructive sleep apnea

3. OSA causes chemical imbalances that trigger the onset of diabetes

The unspoken implication of this research may be that weight control can play a significant role in preventing both OSA and diabetes.

Role of Metabolic Syndrome in OSA and Diabetes

Another link between OSA and diabetes is Syndrome X. Syndrome X, also known as “metabolic syndrome” or “insulin resistance syndrome,” is characterized by cardiovascular risk factors caused by insulin resistance. This insulin resistance has been linked to both type 2 diabetes (90% of people diagnosed with type 2 diabetes demonstrate insulin resistance). OSA is also strongly correlated with:

• Insulin resistance

• Hypertension

• Central obesity

In plain terms, many people who struggle with OSA have health risk factors (Syndrome X) that are very similar to people diabetes.

OSA Evaluation With a Sleep Study

Due to the fact that obstructive sleep apnea is so often present in an individual diagnosed with diabetes, diabetics who are experiencing possible symptoms of sleep apnea are highly encouraged to get a sleep study.

The Anchorage Sleep Center provides comprehensive sleep studies that can help diagnose a sleep disorder which could be aggravating diabetic symptoms.

To read more about types of in-lab sleep studies, the process of a sleep study, and what happens afterwards, read our post on what to expect during a sleep study. Scheduling a sleep study could lead to life changing treatments that could improve insulin sensitivity and alleviate symptoms of OSA, diabetes, and ultimately improve quality of life.