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Sleep Apnea Risk Factor for Diabetes

Posted by admin in May 10th 2008

The results of a Swedish study indicate the obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is related to decreased insulin sensitivity. Impaired sensitivity for insulin is a known risk factor for diabetes.
Jenny Theorell-Haglöw of the Uppsala University Dept of Medical Sciences, Respiratory Medicine and Allergology, and her team performed the study of 400 healthy women to determine the presence of sleep apnea and its relationship with impaired insulin sensitivity.

Theorell-Haglöw’s team found that, after drinking a standardized glucose solution, levels of both insulin and glucose increased more in the women with sleep apnea compared with women without sleep apnea.

In addition, the insulin and glucose levels remained elevated for a longer time in the women with sleep apnea compared with women without. Moreover, as the severity of the women’s sleep apnea increased the insulin sensitivity decreased. Both sleep apnea and diabetes are prevalent in the general population, and both are closely related to obesity. However, according to the research team, patients with sleep apnea had higher glucose and insulin levels even when obesity was taken into account.

They also found that different variables associated with sleep apnea are related to the impairment of insulin sensitivity, particularly nocturnal hypoxemia.

In their conclusion, the authors state that that sleep apnea affects both insulin and glucose levels and is linked with a decrease in insulin sensitivity in women.

They add: “Decreased insulin sensitivity should be considered when treating patients with OSA.” Their findings were published in the European Respiratory Journal

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