ANCSLEEP BLOG

The Revolving Circle of Diabetes, Sleep Apnea, and Obesity

The interplay between diabetes, obesity, and sleep apnea is widely acknowledged and cannot be ignored. While it may be unclear which condition is the root cause of the connection, it is evident that they are all interconnected and have a negative impact on each other.

Obesity can exacerbate obstructive sleep apnea, making it more difficult to breathe during sleep. In turn, sleep apnea can worsen diabetes management, leading to complications in blood sugar control. Furthermore, diabetes can hinder weight loss efforts, making it harder to manage obesity.

This vicious cycle can be disheartening, but the good news is that there are various treatments and interventions available to help break this revolving door. There are strategies to address each condition individually and simultaneously, making the management of diabetes, obesity, and sleep apnea more attainable.

It is crucial to consult with healthcare professionals for personalized guidance and treatment options. Our team of sleep specialists can provide expert advice and support in managing sleep apnea effectively.

Sleep – More Than Just Mental

Sleep deprivation may appear to affect you most mentally and emotionally with the fogginess and moodiness. If sleep deprivation only affected us mentally, it might be easier to get away with. Unfortunately, chronic sleep deprivation can be a silent killer as it takes a large toll on your physical health and performance, as well as mental and emotional health. 

Sleep impacts many areas of your physical health:

• Immune system
• Brain
• Pain
• Safety
• Weight

Let’s look at how sleep affects these areas of your physical health.

The common conception about athletic performance is that it’s a result of physical performance. While this is partly true, maintaining high quality athletic performance is a combination of physical and cognitive performance/health. Athletics requires high levels of both physical and mental energy through movement and a very high degree of focus/concentration.

Sleep is one of the most, if not the most, critical component in maintaining cognitive and physical performance for athletes. There is a plethora of information about:

• The relationship between physical performance and sleep
• The relationship between cognitive performance sleep
• How much sleep can improve athletic performance

Let’s look at each area in more detail.