 |
|
December 2005
Sleep Better, Control Your Blood Sugar
Treating sleep apnea can help control type 2 diabetes
If you snore loudly, awaken during the
night and feel sleepy throughout the day, you could have a condition that could
cause your blood sugar to rise. The culprit: a disorder called sleep apnea.
The condition occurs when soft tissue in the back of your throat closes
during sleep, cutting off your airflow. “You partially awaken to re-start your
breathing, so you never get enough deep sleep,” says Richard Strobel, M.D.,
Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network pulmonologist and sleep disorders
specialist. “Your body releases stress hormones into your bloodstream and that
may cause your blood sugar to rise.”
New research shows that treating
sleep apnea may help control type 2 diabetes. “Studies show regulation of
blood-sugar levels improve by using the “gold standard” treatment—CPAP
(Continuous Positive Airway Pressure),” Strobel says. “You wear a CPAP mask
while you sleep. The mask blows air into your airway to keep it open, allowing
you to breathe continuously throughout the night.”
Discuss your sleep
patterns with your doctor, even if he doesn’t ask you. “CPAP may not only help
better regulate your blood sugar,” Strobel says, “it will also help you get the
deep, restful sleep you need.”
This page last updated 2/12/08 04:08 PM
 |

Related Links
|
 |