If you have diabetes, sleep apnea could be affecting your blood sugar more than you realize. It can change how your body responds to insulin and make diabetes harder to manage, especially at night.
Sleep apnea is common. In the general population, about 6–17% of adults have it. But for people with diabetes, the numbers are much higher. More than half of those with type 2 diabetes have obstructive sleep apnea, and it is very common in type 1 diabetes.
If you live in the Houston or Sugar Land area and struggle with blood sugar control, sleep apnea may be the hidden reason. Shallow breathing or pauses in breathing during sleep could be why your glucose spikes at night.
In this article, we will explain the relationship between sleep apnea and diabetes what you can do to manage it better.
What is Sleep Apnea and How Does it Affect Blood Sugar
Sleep apnea happens when your breathing stops or becomes very shallow while you sleep. It’s more than just a restless night. These breathing pauses can last several seconds and happen many times an hour, putting stress on your body without you even realizing it.
When this happens, your body releases stress hormones, which can affect how your insulin works and raise your blood sugar. That’s why you might wake up with higher glucose, even if your diet and medications are on track.
There are three main types of sleep apnea, but obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is the most common. A 2015 study also confirmed that people with OSA had higher HbA1c levels than those without sleep apnea, even after controlling for BMI and age.
Common signs of sleep apnea include:
- Loud, frequent snoring
- Pauses in breathing during sleep
- Gasping or choking for air
- Feeling sleepy all day
- Brain Fog
- Mood changes
- High Blood Sugar Fluctuations
- High Blood Pressure
Sleep apnea may run in families. It is very common in people who have a BMI over 25, those who smoke, and adults over 40.
Can Diabetes Cause Sleep Apnea?
You will be surprised to know that diabetes and sleep apnea can actually make each other worse. If you have type 2 diabetes, your risk of having obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is higher than people without diabetes.
This is because:
- Extra Fat Around the Neck: Most people with type 2 diabetes carry extra weight, especially around the neck and abdomen. This fat can press on your airway while sleeping, making it more likely to collapse and trigger sleep apnea.
- Weak Airway Muscles: High blood sugar over time can damage your nerves that control your airway. Weak muscles make airway collapse more likely.
- Inflammation: Diabetes causes inflammation, which can swell your throat and worsen snoring or block your airway.
- Hormone Changes: Insulin resistance and fluctuating blood sugar affect your hormones that control your sleep and breathing, leading to poor oxygen at night.
A study published in Diabetes & Metabolic Syndrome also confirmed that up to 50% of people with type 2 diabetes may have undiagnosed sleep apnea.
If you live in Houston or Sugar Land, don’t ignore sleep apnea. At Kairos, we screen for sleep apnea and help patients manage it properly with diabetes.
Health Risks of Untreated Sleep Apnea in Diabetes
If you have diabetes, untreated sleep apnea can quietly make your health worse. Low oxygen at night and poor sleep can make blood sugar harder to control and affect how you feel overall.
Some of the problems it can cause include:
- Poor blood sugar control
- Higher risk of heart disease and stroke
- High blood pressure (hypertension)
- Heart failure or cardiomyopathy
- Atrial fibrillation and other heart rhythm problems
- Weight gain and other metabolic issues
- Kidney damage
- Obesity and metabolic syndrome
- Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)
- Memory problems and dementia
Moderate-to-severe untreated sleep apnea can triple the risk of death, especially in adults under 65.
Sleep Apnea Tests and Diagnosis
If you experience any symptoms of sleep apnea, especially if you also have diabetes. It’s important to get tested for it.
One common way to diagnose it is a sleep apnea test, called polysomnogram, or sleep study. This test records your body functions while you sleep. It measures things like eye movements, brain activity, muscle activity, heart rate, breathing, and blood oxygen levels.
For people in Texas, a home sleep test can be an option. It tracks your breathing, oxygen levels, and heart rate while you sleep at home. It is very convenient and works well to diagnose your sleep apnea. At Kairos Health, we offer you both options depending on your needs.
Practical Tips to Manage Sleep Apnea with Diabetes
At Kairos, we focus on real-world strategies that help you sleep better and keep your blood sugar in check.
- Keep your blood sugar in range by taking medications as prescribed.
- Eat your meals with fiber, lean protein, and low-glycemic foods to support both diabetes and sleep.
- Exercise regularly to improve your insulin sensitivity and make breathing easier at night.
- Use a CPAP machine if prescribed. It keeps your airway open and prevents drops in oxygen while you sleep.
- Stick to a consistent sleep schedule to improve your overall sleep quality.
- Keep a healthy weight. Extra pounds can make your sleep apnea worse and affect blood sugar control.
- Consider surgery only when necessary, after proper medical evaluation.
- Skip alcohol or sedatives before bed. They relax the airway muscles and can make your apnea worse.
- Work with a Provider. They can guide you on mask types, fitting, and other ways to manage sleep apnea and diabetes together.
Conclusion
Are you tolerating high blood sugar at night or dealing with loud snoring? Don’t ignore it. Untreated sleep apnea can make it harder to manage your diabetes.
You need to manage your sleep apnea to better control your diabetes. Plus, getting proper rest will make you feel so much better!
At Kairos Care in Houston and Sugar Land, Lola, one of our board-certified practitioners, helps patients manage sleep apnea and diabetes together with personalized guidance.
We see patients in Houston, Sugar Land, Richmond, and nearby areas (77046 & 77478) and accept major insurance plans, including Blue Cross, Aetna, Ambetter, Cigna, and more.
New patients are always welcome, and if visiting the clinic isn’t possible, telemedicine appointments are available across Texas.
