Dr S Ramnathan Iyer, Consultant Sleep Medicine, Hiranandani Hospital
Sleep and diabetes -- recent links for better management of diabetes
We have often heard that you are what you eat. But isn't it surprising to know that how and when we sleep tells a lot about our overall health. Ironically in most health check ups -- sleep patterns are seldom brought into focus.
Many people suffer from sleep disorders of one kind or the other, little realising that good sleep is essential for good health. Sleep is a metabolic regulator. But with today's fast paced life, sleep deprivation is fast becoming a common complaint. Sleep deprivation (sleep loss) can result in impaired glucose tolerance ,diabetes and obesity. Sleep deprivation also results in snoring and obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA).The prevalence of sleep disordered breathing (snoring and OSA) increases with age.
OSA is a life threatening disorder. There is repetitive collapse of the pharynx (a part of the upper airway) in sleep, resulting in fall of the oxygen concentration in the blood -- a condition called hypoxia. Hypoxia triggers the release of stress hormones in sleep, which cause metabolic errors like rise in blood sugar levels and rise in blood pressure.
If this condition persists over a prolonged period of time, it affects the cardiovascular system and metabolic systems; this in turn leads to the development of hypertension and diabetes!! Genetically prone individuals are more likely to develop these disorders.
Recent studies have shown that treating OSA results in better blood sugar control. The co-relation is simple, hypoxemia in sleep interferes with insulin action (insulin resistance) resulting in high blood glucose levels.
Sleep disorders is common in diabetic subjects. It can precipitate and aggravate diabetes. Diabetic subjects often experience difficulty in initiating sleep, maintaining sleep and excessive daytime sleepiness.
All diabetic subjects should be evaluated for their sleep and if necessary sleep study or polysomnography should be done.If OSA is detected and treated by Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) it increases the insulin sensitivity thereby reducing the blood sugar levels. This is reflected in better management of diabetes and the overall well being of the patient.
Management of OSA in a diabetic subject is highly rewarding since the doses of diabetic medication can be reduced and it is possible that in some cases that required diabetic medicine be withdrawn.
Sleep and diabetes -- recent links for better management of diabetes
We have often heard that you are what you eat. But isn't it surprising to know that how and when we sleep tells a lot about our overall health. Ironically in most health check ups -- sleep patterns are seldom brought into focus.
Many people suffer from sleep disorders of one kind or the other, little realising that good sleep is essential for good health. Sleep is a metabolic regulator. But with today's fast paced life, sleep deprivation is fast becoming a common complaint. Sleep deprivation (sleep loss) can result in impaired glucose tolerance ,diabetes and obesity. Sleep deprivation also results in snoring and obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA).The prevalence of sleep disordered breathing (snoring and OSA) increases with age.
OSA is a life threatening disorder. There is repetitive collapse of the pharynx (a part of the upper airway) in sleep, resulting in fall of the oxygen concentration in the blood -- a condition called hypoxia. Hypoxia triggers the release of stress hormones in sleep, which cause metabolic errors like rise in blood sugar levels and rise in blood pressure.
If this condition persists over a prolonged period of time, it affects the cardiovascular system and metabolic systems; this in turn leads to the development of hypertension and diabetes!! Genetically prone individuals are more likely to develop these disorders.
Recent studies have shown that treating OSA results in better blood sugar control. The co-relation is simple, hypoxemia in sleep interferes with insulin action (insulin resistance) resulting in high blood glucose levels.
Sleep disorders is common in diabetic subjects. It can precipitate and aggravate diabetes. Diabetic subjects often experience difficulty in initiating sleep, maintaining sleep and excessive daytime sleepiness.
All diabetic subjects should be evaluated for their sleep and if necessary sleep study or polysomnography should be done.If OSA is detected and treated by Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) it increases the insulin sensitivity thereby reducing the blood sugar levels. This is reflected in better management of diabetes and the overall well being of the patient.
Management of OSA in a diabetic subject is highly rewarding since the doses of diabetic medication can be reduced and it is possible that in some cases that required diabetic medicine be withdrawn.
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