Untreated Sleep Apnea Can Lead to Diabetes: Here’s How

At Payson Dental and Orthodontics, serving the Payson & Utah communities, expert dentist Brian Kraft, DDS, not only focuses on your teeth and gums, but he also invests in your overall health. An important connection between oral health and overall health involves sleep apnea, a condition that interrupts your breathing while you’re sleeping.

While it’s commonly known for causing fatigue and snoring, untreated sleep apnea can also increase your risk of type 2 diabetes. Since November is National Diabetes Month, let’s explore how the two are connected and what you can do to protect your health.

How sleep apnea disrupts glucose metabolism

Sleep apnea causes brief pauses in your breathing while you’re sleeping, leading to drops in oxygen and repeated awakenings. These sleepless episodes don’t just leave you tired; they trigger a series of changes inside your body that affect how you process and regulate glucose.

When your breathing is interrupted:

Your oxygen levels fall, which increases inflammation and oxidative stress that interfere with insulin signaling.
Your body releases stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline, raising blood sugar levels.
Your pancreas has to work harder to produce insulin, which can lead to insulin resistance and higher blood sugar.

When your sleep is disturbed, your metabolic system suffers. People with moderate to severe sleep apnea are far more likely to develop type 2 diabetes compared to those without the condition.

Signs and risk factors

Since it occurs while you sleep, you may not realize you have sleep apnea. Here are some telltale signs:

Loud snoring
Gasping for air
Choking during sleep
Dry mouth when you wake up
Waking with a sore throat
Difficulty concentrating
Excessive daytime sleepiness

If any of these sound familiar, talk to Dr. Kraft. Certain factors also increase your risk for developing sleep apnea, including:

Being overweight
Having a thick neck
Having a narrow airway
Getting older
Being male

The connection goes both ways. If you have diabetes, you’re more likely to have undiagnosed sleep apnea, and untreated sleep apnea can make it harder for you to control your blood sugar.

If you already have prediabetes or diabetes, this combination can make management more difficult and increase long-term complications. Paying attention to these warning signs early can make a major difference in your health outcomes.

How we can help

The good news is that Dr. Kraft and our team can help you manage sleep apnea, which may reduce your risk of developing diabetes or make it easier to control if you already have it.

Taking small, consistent steps can have a big impact. Here are some actions you can take right now:

Schedule a sleep evaluation if you suspect you have apnea
Maintain a healthy weight through diet and regular exercise
Establish a consistent sleep routine
Stabilize your blood sugar levels

At Payson Dental and Orthodontics, we offer several solutions to help you sleep better and improve your overall wellness.

Dr. Kraft is an expert in Vivos® technology and uses it to fit you for a custom oral appliance that repositions your jaw to keep your airway open at night. We also offer Fotona® NightLase® laser therapy, a gentle, noninvasive procedure that tightens tissue to reduce snoring and airway collapse.

Beyond sleep apnea care, we offer a full range of general and restorative dental services, including cleanings, crowns, implants, and sedation dentistry, so that you can manage both your oral and overall health in one convenient location.

By treating sleep apnea, you improve more than just your sleep; you reduce stress on your body, stabilize your metabolism, and protect yourself from serious health issues like diabetes.

Sleep better, live healthier

Untreated sleep apnea isn’t just a nuisance; it’s a metabolic disruptor that can lead to long-term complications, including type 2 diabetes. This National Diabetes Month, take a closer look at your sleep habits and any warning signs you might be ignoring.

We’re here to help you find safe, effective, and comfortable solutions that support both your dental and overall health. Call now or request an appointment online.