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Review
. 2015 Oct 5:7:113-25.
doi: 10.2147/NSS.S90835. eCollection 2015.

Obstructive sleep apnea as a risk factor for type 2 diabetes mellitus

Preethi Rajan  1 , Harly Greenberg  1
Affiliations
Review

Obstructive sleep apnea as a risk factor for type 2 diabetes mellitus

Preethi Rajan et al. Nat Sci Sleep. .

Abstract

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is independently associated with cardiovascular and cardiometabolic risk in several large epidemiologic studies. OSA leads to several physiologic disturbances such as intermittent hypoxia, sleep fragmentation, and increase in autonomic tone. These disturbances have been associated with insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in animal and human studies. Studies also suggest a bidirectional relationship between OSA and T2DM whereby T2DM itself might contribute to the features of OSA. Moreover, successful treatment of OSA may reduce these risks, although this is controversial. The purpose of this article is to review 1) the links and bidirectional associations between OSA and T2DM; 2) the pathogenic mechanisms that might link these two disease states; 3) the role of continuous positive airway pressure therapy in improving glucose tolerance, sensitivity, and resistance; and 4) the implications for clinical practice.

Keywords: Insulin resistance; intermittent hypoxia; metabolic syndrome; sleep disordered breathing.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Links between obstructive sleep apnea and the development of glucose intolerance and T2DM. Abbreviations: HPA, hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis; T2DM, type 2 diabetes mellitus.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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