For the first time, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) has issued a recommendation regarding anyone who has Type 2 diabetes or hypertension. People with those health conditions should be evaluated for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Diabetes affects more than 25 million people in the US, and about 90-95% of those people have Type 2 diabetes. One third of American adults, approximately 67 million people have hypertension (high blood pressure). The new recommended guideline is set to have a major impact on diagnostic procedures.
It is estimated through research that approximately half of patients with hypertension also have OSA. The overlap may be even higher with diabetes, with most patients having the sleep disorder. The relationships of OSA to diabetes and hypertension are complex and appear to be multi-directional; all three conditions have shared risk factors, particularly obesity. OSA is an extremely common sleep disorder but, it continues to be seriously under diagnosed. The presence of OSA can complicate the treatments for hypertension and Type 2 diabetes, especially if is unattended to, making medications unresponsive or increase insulin resistance.
AASM also revealed good news as well. The treatment of OSA in patients with hypertension and Type 2 diabetes not only improves the sleep disorder, it can improve the other conditions as well. Improve your health and lower your risk by making sure you are properly evaluated for obstructive sleep apnea.
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