A study completed at Leiden University Medical Center in The Netherlands has found that previously healthy patients who had just one night of reduced sleep time can show signs of insulin resistance.  This is important because insulin resistance is often a precursor to type 2 diabetes.

The lead researcher, Dr. Esther Donga said that over the last 10 years the average night’s sleep has shortened in Western societies.  This reduced amount of sleep coincides with an increase in the number of cases of type 2 diabetes.  Dr. Donga states “a short night of sleep has more profound effects on metabolic regulation than previously appreciated.”

Previous studies had shown that several nights of shortened sleep could lead to reduced glucose tolerance, but this study from The Netherlands is the first to show how the sensitivity to insulin could change so quickly – after only one night.

There are many reasons why people have reduced sleep but a common reason is obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).  OSA is a serious condition wherein the tissue surrounding the upper airway relaxes and collapses during sleep.  This causes the sleeper to temporarily stop breathing.  This can last for several seconds and may happen frequently during sleep – up to several hundred times a night.

If you have OSA night after night your sleep is disrupted placing stress on your brain and heart.  Many people who have been diagnosed with OSA are not compliant with the most common method of treatment which is the CPAP machine.  There is an alternative to CPAP – oral appliance therapy  is approved by the FDA for the treatment of OSA.  Your Dental Sleep Medicine practitioner, Dr. Mark Levy can discuss treatment options and discover whether you are a candidate for treatment with oral appliance therapy.

In the Columbus, Ohio area contact our office at 614-476-6696 to arrange a consultation and discuss treatment for sleep apnea.  Get a good nights’ sleep at last and protect your health without the use of masks and machines.