Research shows that seven in 10 people with Type 2 diabetes also have obstructive sleep apnea, a dangerous, potentially life-threatening condition that also increases your risk for obesity and heart disease. November is National Diabetes Month, and the National Healthy Sleep Awareness Project is advising everyone with Type 2 diabetes to be aware of their high risk for sleep apnea and talk to a doctor about any warning signs of this chronic disease.
A common misconception is that sleep apnea, a condition characterized by complete or partial airway obstruction during sleep, only affects older, overweight men. This widely-held assumption is wrong: Anyone can have sleep apnea, regardless of gender, age or body type — even if you’re not overweight.
The most common warning sign for sleep apnea is snoring, especially when it is combined with choking, gasping or silent breathing pauses during sleep. Other warning signs include daytime fatigue or sleepiness, high blood pressure and a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher. You should discuss these warning signs with your doctor, who may refer you to a board-certified sleep medicine physician for a complete sleep evaluation.
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