Obstructive sleep apnea in patients with type 2 diabetes

In patients with type 2 diabetes obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is in addition to obesity, hyperlipidemia and arterial hypertension a common comorbidity which is characterized by repetitive apnea, arousals from sleep and surges of heart rate and arterial blood pressure. Symptoms related to OSA include morning tiredness, daytime hypersomnolence, nocturnal dyspnea and nocturia and justify treatment of OSA. Patients with type 2 diabetes can profit from treatment of OSA in terms of symptom relief, blood pressure lowering effects and potential beneficial effects on lipid and glucose metabolism. Diagnostics of OSA with an ambulatory polygraphy is indicated in patients with type 2 diabetes and OSA-related symptoms or other typical clinical signs for OSA, such as arterial hypertension refractory to drug treatment or non-dipping in 24 h blood pressure monitoring.