Diabetes and sleep apnea are more closely related than we previously suspected. This is especially true with untreated obstructive sleep apnea, also known as OSA. This sleep disorder causes a person to stop breathing several times each hour throughout the night. As you can imagine, the constant interruption of the steady flow of oxygen your body needs can have a devastating effect on your body. Each year, new studies teach us more more about this potentially lethal disorder.

Mark Levy DDS stands on the front line in the battle against OSA. He has years of training and experience in treating patients suffering from OSA. Dr. Levy has been awarded for his contributions when it comes to treating sleep disorders. He also helps educate other dental professionals on how to adequately care for patients who suffer from OSA. Dr. Levy prides himself on staying current as we discover more about this horrendous disorder. He also offers state of the art treatment options for people who suffer with OSA.

The Connection between Diabetes and Sleep Apnea

A recent study shows that people who suffer from OSA often suffer from worsening blood sugar. This holds true as long as the disorder is untreated. Thankfully, receiving proper treatment shows benefits when it comes to improving blood sugar.

Researchers previously have searched for the link between sleep apnea and blood sugar. They accomplished this through patient comparison. They compared patients who were treating their OSA with the use of the traditional CPAP therapy versus patients who were not treating their OSA. Unfortunately, past studies have been unreliable because they were unmonitored and there was no way to tell if people were actually participating in their CPAP therapy.

Dr. Jonathan Jun of Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore was the senior author of the study. He spoke with Reuters about the study:

“One of the longstanding debates in our field” is whether sleep apnea actually causes heart issues and problems with blood sugar, “or if they’re just associated.”

In order to get to the bottom of the debate, they needed to conduct a controlled study. They needed to research the effects of the intermittently collapsing airway during sleep. The collapsed airway causes frequent and elongated pauses in breathing. The decrease in blood oxygen levels impacts several areas of the body and mind. Ongoing research allows us to see how this sleeping disorder interacts with other issues that may or may not be caused by the OSA itself.

Studying Diabetes and Sleep Apnea

Thirty one patients suffering from moderate to severe OSA were selected for the study researching the connection between diabetes and sleep apnea. These patients were known to use their CPAP machines regularly. The study lasted two nights. The patients spent two nights in the sleep lab. They used their CPAP on one night and did not use it on the other night. The researchers took blood samples as the participants slept. This allowed them to track the changes over the course of the night with and without treatment.

“We are looking at real time changes,” said Jun. “We’re getting blood every 20 minutes.”

As reported in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, on the night without CPAP, patients’ obstructive sleep apnea returned. On those nights, patients had low levels of oxygen in their blood, poor sleep and an increased heart rate.

The return of OSA without treatment is not unexpected. Without the continuous positive airway pressure to keep the airway open, the collapse reoccurs and breathing is affected. However, the blood samples provided us with valuable new information. Samples showed an increase in sugar, fatty acids, and the stress hormone cortisol. In addition to these changes the researchers also found evidence of arterial stiffness and high blood pressure. These both indicate an increased risk for cardiac issues.

“These were obese patients and patients with relatively severe sleep apnea. They also had other medical problems,” Jun pointed out. People who fit that description may be experiencing the same changes during the night if they sleep without their CPAP machine, he said.

The group without the CPAP machines showed a rise in glucose and fatty acids. However, those who also have diabetes are more vulnerable to the changes.

Obesity and OSA

Obesity itself is a leading risk factor for OSA. In previous studies it has been difficult to know for certain if the changes in blood sugar, blood pressure, cortisol levels, and arterial stiffness were caused by the obesity itself or OSA. However, this new study gives us the opportunity to see the answer for ourselves.

The new study, he said, “advances that idea that other conditions and not obesity itself are drivers of those levels.”

The study is proof shoring significant changes caused by OSA without treatment. Proof of these changes provides us undeniable information that shows OSA sufferers should seek treatment as soon as possible. It only took one night without CPAP therapy to record significant shifts in sugar levels, fatty acids, stress, arterial stiffness, and high blood pressure. In order to avoid these negative health effects it’s important to follow your treatment plan each and every day.

The pauses in our breathing start a chain reaction throughout our bodies. These negative changes greatly impact our health in a variety of ways. Overtime, these changes can lead to serious health issues. The best thing you can do to ensure you live a long and healthy life is to seek treatment for your OSA. Speak with your doctor if you exhibit the symptoms of OSA. Once diagnosed, discuss all your treatment options.

If at any point you find that you’re having difficulties complying with your treatment plan, ask for alternate options. While CPAP therapy is typically the go-to treatment option, there are other treatments available. It’s extremely important to find an option that you will use each day. This is especially true for patients who suffer from diabetes and sleep apnea.

Alternative Treatment Options for OSA

If you do not tolerate CPAP therapy there are other available options. One of the most popular alternatives is an oral appliance. These devices are designed by qualified dentists. They help keep your airway open by providing support for soft tissue that often collapses and leads to the apnea episodes.

During treatment, you can also work on lifestyle changes to decrease the risk and severity of your sleep apnea. Proper diet, exercise, and other lifestyle changes such as eating earlier in the evening, not drinking alcohol before bed, and stopping smoking will all help. However, it’s important you undergo treatment as you make these changes to treat the apnea in the meantime.

Call Mark Levy DDS at (614) 777-7350 for treatment options if you suffer from both diabetes and sleep apnea.