Ann Tisthammer, vice president of clinical education at ResMed discussed the link between diabetes and sleep disordered breathing at the Continuum of Care conference at Medtrade. In the session, Diabetes and Sleep Disordered Breathing, Tisthammer indicated that 50 percent of males with Type 2 diabetes have obstructive sleep apnea and 21 percent of females.
The connection of sleep disordered breathing and diabetes may result from an increase in sympathetic nervous activity resulting from repeated apneas that may cause the release of glucose into from the muscles into the bloodstream. Most diabetes educators (97 percent) believe that OSA has an impact on the metabolic system and 67 percent believe that CPAP therapy improves insulin sensitivity.
Providers should reach out to diabetes educators. “Contacts such as these can lead to an increase in your sleep program.” Tisthammer also recommended that providers reach out to primary care physicians and endocrinologists. “Lots of opportunity is linked to primary care physicians as a contact point for providers, but diabetes educators are the best contacts.” Visit www.diabetes.org/education/eduprograms for approved diabetes education centers.
In addition to connecting with diabetes educators, Tisthammer encouraged providers and respiratory therapists to have a Sleep 101 meeting to educate diabetes educators on the connection between sleep and diabetes and the importance of referring their clients to sleep labs for testing.
Other highlights included:
• 21 million of the U.S. population has diabetes
• Diabetes patients are two to three times more likely to have cardiovascular disease
• 80 percent of all diabetes sufferers die of cardiovascular disease
• Diabetes is tied to obesity and the sleep market is growing because of obesity.
• Diabetes patients are hugely undiagnosed for sleep apnea.
Visit www.resmed.com
