Dr. Mogell Dental Blog

Boca Raton Cosmetic Dentist

Sleep Apnea and Diabetes

Monday, July 05, 2010

Diabetes and Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Obstructive Sleep Apnea is a disorder characterized by episodes where an individual will literally stop breathing while sleeping….many times a night! New research shows that there is a strong connection between patients who have diabetes and Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

Recently a study was published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine about the relationship between diabetes and Obstructive Sleep Apnea. The study had 60 diabetic individuals tested with overnight sleep studies. The results demonstrated that 77% of the diabetics had some degree of Obstructive Sleep Apnea. The patients who had some degree of Obstructive Sleep Apnea saw a considerable increase in difficulty with the control of glucose levels.

According to the lead researcher, Dr. Renee Aronsohn of the University of Chicago, "Our findings have important clinical implications as they support the hypothesis that reducing the severity of obstructive sleep apnea may improve glycemic control".

The majority of people who are indeed suffering with Obstructive Sleep Apnea haven’t even been diagnosed.
Being a diabetic and have undiagnosed Obstructive Sleep Apnea only complicates the delicate balance of the diabetic condition. If you are a diabetic and think you might be living with a sleep disorder, please give us a call at 561-394-900. We will arrange an appointment to help screen you to determine if Obstructive Sleep Apnea is affecting your diabetes.

Kenneth A. Mogell, D.M.D.