Is Insulin Resistance and Sleep Apnea Linked?

One of the most common side effects of having sleep apnea is experiencing extreme fatigue throughout the day. This is the result of constantly waking up throughout the night since sleep apnea prevents you from properly breathing while you are asleep. But unless sleep apnea is treated quickly, you could soon find yourself on the road to numerous other health complications, including diabetes.

Several studies have shown that obstructive sleep apnea changes the body’s use of insulin, a hormone that plays a major role in your metabolism. This could lead to a person developing an insulin resistance, which often serves as a precursor to diabetes. Although older patients are more likely to have sleep apnea, it can also occur in children, so make sure anyone displaying the signs of sleep apnea gets the proper treatment.

Once you have been diagnosed by our sleep apnea dentist, the best treatment for you will be recommended. This can include prescribing you an oral appliance or a CPAP machine to help you breathe easier at night. In addition to these devices, you may also want to implement certain lifestyle changes in your routine. The symptoms of sleep apnea can be greatly reduced by losing weight, exercising more, avoiding alcohol, or quitting smoking.