SAN DIEGO &#151 As part of its ongoing efforts to increase awareness and recognition of the relationship between sleep apnea and type 2 diabetes, ResMed Corp. will drive the education of certified nurse educators by attending the American Association of Diabetes Educators (AADE) Annual Meeting in August.

The comorbidity of sleep apnea and diabetes is gaining recognition. A 2005 study showed that obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) affects 50 percent of male type 2 diabetes patients, a substantially higher percentage than in the general population. Additionally, clinical research has shown that treating sleep apnea with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment significantly reduces postprandial glucose levels and improves insulin sensitivity in diabetes patients. Due to these significant interactions, ResMed is working to build relationships between the sleep medicine and diabetes education communities with the goal of implementing practical solutions for sleep apnea among this patient population.

“As an educator, I work closely with my patients to help them live a long and healthy life and manage their diabetes &#151 and that includes getting enough sleep,” stated Martha M. Funnell, MS, RN, CDE, the Michigan Diabetes Research and Training Center.

ResMed will exhibit at booth 1301 at the AADE Annual Meeting in Los Angeles. The conference will take place Aug. 9-12. The company is sponsoring an Industry Theatre including a presentation for hundreds of diabetes educators, which will cover an overview of sleep apnea, how to identify symptoms and screen patients, as well as successful management of sleep apnea therapy.

“More than 50 percent of male diabetes patients and 20 percent of female diabetes patients have sleep apnea, yet a startling number remain undiagnosed and untreated in practice. As awareness increases about the benefits of CPAP treatment for diabetes patients with sleep apnea, there is a tremendous opportunity for diabetes specialists to improve their patients? treatment outcomes and overall quality of life,” said Michael Farrell, vice president of marketing. “We look forward to meeting educators at the exhibition booth at AADE and discussing practical ways for diabetes educators to work with sleep centers to reduce their patients? health risk by screening and treating sleep apnea.”