Blog Layout

The Connection Between Sleep Apnea and Type 2 Diabetes

Warrenton Dental Center • Mar 08, 2017

 

Let’s cut to the main point of this blog post: sleep apnea can increase your risk of type 2 diabetes. It’s that to the point. Sleep apnea is a condition where a person’s airway becomes partially or completely blocked during sleep. As a result, breathing will stop and start throughout the night. Approximately 13 percent of men and 6 percent of women suffer from moderate to severe undiagnosed sleep apnea. While the percentages might seem small, it is important that we do not ignore them.

What is the Connection?

The World Health Organization states that approximately one in every 10 adults suffers from diabetes. Of those with diabetes, a majority has type 2 diabetes, which is when the body can’t make or process enough of the insulin hormone. For those who have type 2 diabetes, obesity is an increased risk. In addition, sleep apnea is also an increased risk for obesity and vice versa.

We need to place a high amount of focus in preventing sleep apnea. By screening for diabetes if you have sleep apnea, and screening for sleep apnea if you have diabetes, we can take strides in further protection against both conditions. This also holds true for those who are overweight and physically inactive people.

It is important to be aware of the link between sleep apnea and type 2 diabetes. While ongoing research is still being completed, knowing there is a connection is key to protecting your overall health and well-being. Contact Dr. Bonnie Foster for more information on the connection between sleep apnea and type 2 diabetes, and how we can help.

By cpcvirginia 06 Dec, 2017
You may think that snoring or sleep apnea should not be at the top of your treatment list. However, it is important to make the treatment of your sleep apnea a top priority. Why? Let’s take a look at 5 negative effects that sleep apnea can have on your oral and overall health when treatment […]
By Warrenton Dental Center 06 Dec, 2017
Being at risk for temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD) increases your likelihood of developing this condition. It is possible to develop TMD with or without the risk factors, but if you do have a number of those listed, it is important to ask your dentist what you might be able to do to reduce your risk. […]
By Warrenton Dental Center 28 Nov, 2017
From snoring to pauses in breathing, sleep apnea should not be taken lightly—in fact, you should receive proper treatment immediately. As with other diseases and conditions, there are different types of sleep apnea you might be suffering from. For this reason, it is important to understand each type in order to better understand your specific […]
By cpcvirginia 27 Nov, 2017
If you are experiencing an extremely painful headache, it might be a migraine. However, while migraines might be annoying and difficult to deal with, they don’t typically cause any serious complications. With a new study, migraines were determined to be an early sign of arthritis in the jaw. What is the Connection? Temporomandibular joint disorder […]
By Warrenton Dental Center 16 Nov, 2017
Maybe you’ve been trying to find the root cause for your TMD but are coming up short. For many, stress is the culprit. It affects almost everyone at some point in their lives. In fact, about 77 percent of people in the United States have reported that they experienced physical symptoms due to stress. Let’s […]
By cpcvirginia 15 Nov, 2017
In addition to sleep apnea treatments it is also important to make lifestyle changes. Through these changes, you can improve your sleep and eliminate your symptoms of sleep apnea—it’s a win/win for your health and your sleep! Here are three lifestyle changes you should start making immediately. Quit Smoking. We have all been told that […]
By cpcvirginia 10 Nov, 2017
It has also been shown that those who suffer from sleep disorders might also be suffering from a problem directly related to temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders (TMD). A disorder in the TMJ can cause pain and discomfort in other parts of the body and symptoms, such as sleep apnea, teeth grinding and tension headaches or […]
By Warrenton Dental Center 10 Nov, 2017
Sleep apnea has been observed since ancient times and, while a treatment or cause was not clear, people were still aware of this condition. In the late 19th century, the term “Pickwickian syndrome” was created to describe symptoms of sleep apnea. Unfortunately, the research mainly concentrated on the patient’s obesity rather than the disordered breathing […]
By cpcvirginia 06 Sep, 2017
If you chew gum and suffer from headaches or jaw pain, you might want to think twice before you pick up that new pack of gum. A person suffering from temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD) might find it painful to chew gum while others will gladly chew it on a daily basis. In a study of […]
By cpcvirginia 01 Sep, 2017
We all know sleep is essential to maintaining a healthy lifestyle. However, sleep conditions, such as sleep apnea, can hinder a person’s ability to sleep and their quality of sleep. When this occurs, other severe health conditions can arise. We’ve discussed a few before, but let’s take a look at some other conditions: High Blood […]
More Posts
Share by: