Recognising obstructive sleep apnoea as a sign of developing diabetes

Article points 1. An increasing body of evidence suggests that obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is independently associated with glucose intolerance and worsened glycaemic control. Also, OSA is a common comorbidity in people with type 2 diabetes (T2D), with a higher prevalence than in the general population. 2. The two primary disturbances in OSA, acute periods of hypoxic stress and sleep fragmentation, have been shown to potentially impair glucose homeostasis. OSA, obesity and impaired glucose metabolism create a vicious triangle leading to further weight gain, progression of OSA and deteriorating glucose homeostasis, which can result in T2D. 3. Given the complex bidirectional relationship between OSA and T2D, people with one condition should be considered for the other.