A study from the University of Birmingham in the UK reported that people with obstructive sleep apnea that also have Type 2 diabetes have a higher risk of losing their sight and increased foot problems.

The study looked at a group of people who had type 2 diabetes, out of that group more than half also had obstructive sleep apnea. The researchers found that there were more than twice as many patients in the group with sleep apnea that had severe retinopathy (48%) which could lead to blindness. In the group of diabetics without sleep apnea the rate of retinopathy was only twenty percent.

Researchers also found that obstructive sleep apnea was linked to neuropathy in a different study. In patients with both conditions, about 60 percent of the group had neuropathy compared to only 22 percent in the group without the sleep disorder. Neuropathy in diabetics is a condition that may lead to amputation.

According to lead researcher,  Dr. Abd Tahrani, “Our work highlights several important issues. Our results emphasize what is already known – that OSA (obstructive sleep apnea) is very common in patients with Type 2 diabetes, much higher than OSA prevalence in the general population.”

If you are a diabetic patient who experiences loud snoring, excessive daytime sleepiness or if a bed partner has told you that you gasp for air or stop breathing during sleep you may have obstructive sleep apnea. Please contact Dr. Mark Levy at 614-476-6696 to arrange for a consultation about diagnosing and treating obstructive sleep apnea.