ResMed Calls For Treatment Standards For Type 2 Diabetes And OSA

Main Category: Diabetes
Article Date: 07 Oct 2008 - 4:00 PDT

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ResMed, a leading manufacturer of sleep and respiratory medical equipment, urges for more awareness of the connection between type 2 diabetes and obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). At this year's annual meeting of the European Respiratory Society (ERS) in Berlin, leading researchers in the field of sleep-related diseases discussed these closely related conditions and their implication on public health.

With the plea for more awareness, ResMed expresses its support for the recommendations from the recently published report from the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) taskforce which highlighted the need for increased recognition and research on this health issue. Recent studies have shown that OSA (a condition that leads to temporary stops in breathing during sleep), and type 2 diabetes are closely related. OSA is also commonly referred to as sleep apnoea and studies indicate that up to 50 percent of people living with diabetes have sleep apnoea.

OSA can be life-threatening and people with OSA have higher chances of developing serious health problems like diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke and obesity. Common symptoms are tiredness, headaches, concentration difficulties, snoring, and also depression. Today, 94 percent of doctors are aware of a connection between OSA and type 2 diabetes. However, 43 percent still do not routinely screen diabetes patients for sleep apnoea.

The most effective treatment for sleep apnoea is continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). In this non-invasive treatment, air is pressurized by a small device and delivered to the airway of the patient through a mask that fits on/over the nose or nose and mouth. The pressurized air keeps the upper airway open and allows the person to get an uninterrupted, restful night's sleep. Even more important for diabetes patients is the fact that the CPAP treatment can improve insulin sensitivity and reduces blood glucose levels. As little as two nights with a CPAP can improve insulin sensitivity, sustained at the three month interval.

"There is a strong need to help people suffering from type 2 diabetes and OSA," said Professor Stephan Rössner, Obesity Unit, Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge. "A good starting point is to raise awareness among health professionals and members of the diabetes and sleep communities regarding the public health implications of both these conditions."

Moving forward, ResMed will actively work to partner with healthcare professionals in order to raise awareness of the link between type 2 diabetes and OSA. ResMed strongly endorses the IDF recommendation that calls for the adoption of clinical practices that ensure that an individual presenting with one condition is also screened for the other.

"The medical community should take action by initiating more research that helps to formally establish the correlation between type 2 diabetes and OSA," said Professor Stephan Rössner. "Further, there needs to be an adoption of clinical practices that ensure that an individual with one condition is also screened for the other."

About ResMed

ResMed is a leading manufacturer of medical equipment for the treatment and management of sleep-disordered breathing and other respiratory disorders. ResMed is dedicated to developing innovative products to improve the lives of those who suffer from these conditions and to increasing awareness among patients and healthcare professionals for the potentially serious health consequences of untreated sleep-disordered breathing.

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