Obstructive sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder that affects about 30 million Americans. This can lead to a variety of negative consequences, including loud snoring, fatigue, and difficulty focusing on tasks during the day. What a lot of people don’t know is that obstructive sleep apnea can also increase your risk of serious health issues, like type two diabetes. If you have prediabetes, read on to learn more about the link between the two conditions and why you might want to seek help.
What Is the Connection Between Pre-Diabetes and Sleep Apnea?
A study completed at the University of Hertfordshire published in the Journal of Diabetes and Vascular Disease Research found that there was a significant link between poor sleep and elevated hemoglobin A1 (HbA1c) levels, which indicates high blood sugar. Ultimately, the higher the HbA1c level, the higher your risk of developing diabetes. In this study, participants who recorded poor quality of sleep tended to have higher blood sugar levels over a three-month period. If you currently have prediabetes, it could be worsened by sleep apnea, so it’s beneficial for you to get tested and seek treatment if you notice any symptoms.
What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea can be made known in a variety of different ways. Here are some of the most common ones:
- Loud snoring
- Excessive sleepiness
- Wake up gasping
- Dry mouth and/or sore throat
- Frequent morning headaches
- Difficulty focusing
- Mood changes
- Elevated blood pressure
What Steps Can Be Taken to Address Sleep Apnea?
Getting quality sleep is always important for your body to thrive. Without much-needed rest, the symptoms in your body aren’t able to work together properly, so you are at increased risk of a variety of health conditions, including elevated blood sugar. Here are some of the steps you should take if you are experiencing symptoms of sleep apnea:
- Seek a Diagnosis: To be treated for sleep apnea, you need to receive a diagnosis from a sleep doctor. When you undergo a sleep test, it will be confirmed if sleep apnea is the culprit of your symptoms.
- Undergo Treatment: Once you’ve received your diagnosis, steps can be taken to relieve your symptoms. There are a variety of options out there, including CPAP therapy and oral appliance therapy. By working with your doctor, you can put together a plan that’s right for you.
- Make Lifestyle Changes: Maintaining a healthy diet is getting plenty of exercise can help you to maintain a healthy weight and keep your blood sugar under control.
If you have pre-diabetes, it’s not too late for you to seek help from a professional. By taking the initiative now to address sleep apnea concerns, you can see improvement in your health.
About the Author
Dr. Renee Corbitt is an experienced dentist serving patients of all ages. She has well over three decades of experience and is committed to continuing education to keep her knowledge and skills sharp. She takes a variety of courses and attends seminars to learn about new ideas and concepts. She has also completed UCLA’s Sleep Medicine Residency. Currently, she is a proud member of numerous professional organizations, including the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine and the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. To learn more about sleep apnea or to schedule an appointment at her office in Fort Worth, visit her website or call (817) 294-8821.