Slides for mini-

1. Sleep Apnea and Diabetes
What’s the Connection?

2. Sleep Apnea
 Obstructive sleep apnea is caused by obstructed airflow and
upper airway collapse during sleep
 Apnea: absence of breathing
 This causes arousal and interrupts sleep
 It could happen hundreds of time during the night!

3. Picture of Obstructed Airway

4. Symptoms
 Loud snoring
 Frequent choking or gasping that causes brief wakening
during sleep time
 Excessive daytime sleepiness
 Morning headaches
 Increased urination at night
 Weight gain
 Irritability or depression

5. Sleep Apnea and Diabetes
 Lack of quality sleep and low oxygen levels that happen with
sleep apnea cause a stress response in the body
Increases cortisol and other stress hormones
which raise blood glucose and cause insulin
resistance
Increases inflammation markers in the body

6. Sleep Apnea and Diabetes
 Sleep apnea can increase the risk of type 2 diabetes
because of the increased blood glucose levels and insulin
resistance
 Persons with type 2 diabetes who are overweight have a
much higher incidence of sleep apnea
 Several studies found around 73% of persons with type 2
diabetes had sleep apnea

7. Sleep Apnea and Diabetes
 Persons with diabetes AND sleep apnea:
 Harder to control blood glucose
 Less energy to be physically active
 May cause weight gain
 Increases the risk for cardiovascular disease
For more information:
National Heart Lung and Blood Institute
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/sleepapnea/