Sleep apnea and diabetes

Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder and a common comorbidity among patients with diabetes worldwide. Previous studies have demonstrated a high prevalence of prediabetes and diabetes in individuals with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The physiopathology of OSA is characterized by recurrent collapse of the upper airway during sleep, resulting in intermittent hypoxia and fragmented sleep. These cardinal features can induce sympathetic activation, systemic inflammation, and oxidative stress, thereby increasing the risk and severity of diabetes. OSA has been reported to be associated with the worsening or the development of type 2 diabetes (T2D) and other types. Although there is a strong correlation between OSA and T2D, accumulated data on traditional treatments for OSA, such as continuous positive airway pressure, seem to show conflicting results regarding glucose metabolism. As novel approaches to T2D, glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists and bariatric surgery also offer the potential for treating OSA. This review discusses the complex and bidirectional interplay among sleep disruption, insulin resistance, and diabetes. Advances in OSA treatment and their effects on glucose metabolism have also been discussed in this review.