Sleep apnea may disrupt blood sugar levels in diabetics

March 3, 2014 - PRLog -- CALABASAS, Calif. — Sleep apnea can make it harder to control blood sugar levels in people with Type 2 diabetes.

According to a new study by the American Diabetes Association, sleep apnea can disturb the deepest stages of sleep, or REM sleep, which can negatively affect long-term blood sugar control.

There are two main types of sleep apnea: Obstructive sleep apnea, the most common form which occurs when the throat muscles relax; and Central sleep apnea, where the brain fails to send proper signals to the muscles that control breathing.

People with sleep apnea stop breathing several times a night and their oxygen levels drop during sleep which raises the risk of Type 2 diabetes.

More severe cases of sleep apnea are generally associated with poorer blood sugar control in people with diabetes, the study showed.

The most effective form of treatment for sleep apnea has been the Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) sleep machine, which delivers air pressure through a face mask during sleep.

The air pressure helps keep your upper airway passages open, preventing snoring and apnea, but most people refuse to use the CPAP because it’s simply too cumbersome.

Dentist and sleep apnea expert Dr. Greg Rubin, of the Calabasas Dental Institute, said an oral appliance may offer another treatment solution for those with sleep apnea.

“It’s important to get treatment but I understand how difficult using the CPAP can be. There are other options available like a custom-made oral appliance which I have used myself in the past when I was diagnosed with a mild form of sleep apnea. I’ve been there,” he said.

“If sleep apnea is left untreated, it can lead to many other complications and health issues. Don’t get to that point.”

There are nearly 200 different oral devices that can be used to treat Obstructive sleep apnea and studies suggest that 2/3 of sleep apnea cases can be treated with dental devices, which help increase the airwaves in the throat by repositioning the lower jaw.

“I’ve used every oral appliance out there until I found the one that worked for me and I can help you do the same,” he said.

Dr. Greg Rubin has developed and operates a consumer hotline — (310)-I-SNORE-2® or (310) 476-6732 — that will take patients through all the steps from a free evaluation to diagnosis and treatment.

Dr. Greg Rubin and his team of dental experts and specialists will help patients find the oral device that will fit their needs. They will also fabricate, fit the device and make any necessary adjustments at his office located in Calabasas, Calif.

According to the National Sleep Foundation, nearly 18 million people in the U.S. suffer from sleep apnea.

The Calabasas Dental Institute is located at 4764 Park Granada #107, Calabasas, CA 91302; (818) 224-2420.

Using the latest in high-tech digital technology, this group of dental experts and specialists provide first rate personalized service in all aspects of cutting edge general and cosmetic dentistry. A sleep apnea treatment center, which offers the most advanced oral treatments on the market, is also conveniently located on the premises. Doctors at the Calabasas Dental Institute, which is the first dental office in Southern California to accept Bitcoin as payment,  have pioneered some of the leading technologies in the treatment of bad breath and operate a one-stop bad breath treatment facility at the Calabasas location. For their innovation, they have been recognized nationally as leading experts in bad breath treatment by HealthTap.com, which ranked the group #1 among other health experts in the field. For more information, please visit CalabasasDentalInstitute.com.