Diabetes and Apnea

[beckertrev]

I'm new here, but a CPAP/APAP user since 1991. Living in the UK/Germany.

I recently changed to an S9 APAP machine, having previously had a Goodknight 420 and have been monitoring the software readings as a result. Something has registered, of which I was never aware: The 'central apnoes' seem to be closely linked to blood sugar levels.

I've used the machine at various times of the day to look at the readouts.
As many with type 2 diabetes - age-related - know, blood sugar starts to rise about 4am and with me tends to peak with a very high level at around 8am.

The S9 software - amazingly - shows a completely corresponding increase in 'central apnoes' during this time, which can even be as often as every few minutes around 6-8am if I stay sleeping. On the other hand, during the period up to 4 am, when blood sugar is normally low, there are virtually no centrals.
Obstructive apnoes however, remain at normal intervals - ie. seldom - the whole of the time.

The tie-in between central apnoes and blood sugar is something I will discuss with the doc next time I'm there.
Greetings.

[trish6hundred]

Hi beckertrev,
WELCOME! to the forum.!
Thanks for posting your findings, very interesting.
Hang in there for more responses to your post.

[JJJ]

As many with type 2 diabetes - age-related - know, blood sugar starts to rise about 4am and with me tends to peak with a very high level at around 8am.

Many call this the "dawn effect." It affects everyone, not just diabetics, although the amount of the blood sugar increase varies among individuals from little or nothing to massive. As far as I can tell it's an evolutionary thing so that upon waking your blood sugar will be high enough for you to defend your life or go catch something for your breakfast. The actual action is where your liver converts stored compounds in various complex processes to glucose and pumps it out into your blood. I keep telling my liver that I have a refrigerator and cupboards full of food, so it doesn't need to do this any more, but my liver has never paid much attention to me.

I use NPH insulin at bedtime to control this. NPH insulin has a very slow onset and a long tail, so it reaches peak activity close to the time when the liver goes into hyper-mode.

As for centrals, I seldom have them, but after reading your experience I will start watching for the time of night when they occur, Perhaps I will find a pattern.

[DeepBreathing]

I've got Type 2 diabetes, but I never knew about the blood sugar rise in the early morning. When I have an APA machine I always got a huge bunch of centrals starting around 4:30 or 5:00. Now with VPAP-ASV they're gone.

By the way - how do you monitor your blood sugar through the night? I do a finger-stick in the morning (though I admit I don't do it every morning) and frankly I'm sick of it. My finger tips are tingling all the time so I'm not as conscientious about it as I should be.

[fb4mark]

I do a finger-stick in the morning (though I admit I don't do it every morning) and frankly I'm sick of it. My finger tips are tingling all the time so I'm not as conscientious about it as I should be.
[/quote]

I've had type 1 diabetes for 35 years. I do finger sticks 4 times a day 4 days a week. The trick is not to stick the pads or tip. Stick the side just below the finger nail. There are less nerves there and you don't grab things with the sides. Also after the sample is taken treat is as a wound and apply pressure to it with a tissue and hold it for 60 sec. This will keep it from discoloring and help to keep the skin soft.

[DeepBreathing]

I do a finger-stick in the morning (though I admit I don't do it every morning) and frankly I'm sick of it. My finger tips are tingling all the time so I'm not as conscientious about it as I should be.

I've had type 1 diabetes for 35 years. I do finger sticks 4 times a day 4 days a week. The trick is not to stick the pads or tip. Stick the side just below the finger nail. There are less nerves there and you don't grab things with the sides. Also after the sample is taken treat is as a wound and apply pressure to it with a tissue and hold it for 60 sec. This will keep it from discoloring and help to keep the skin soft.
[/quote]

Only four days a week? What do you do on your days off? :grin:

That's good advice re not sticking the tip and pads - I do try to spread it around a bit. I did think about some other parts of the body (forearm maybe) but haven't done any experimenting yet.

[cbramsey]

Welcome to the forum!!! We are glad you joined us!!!

[PollCat]

I've always had an aversion to needles, even though I give blood every 56 to 60 days and now have to give myself insulin injections every night. I'm supposed to test my blood twice a day, at random times. As I hate the finger-tip stick, I use an alternate site meter that allows me to use my lower arms (usually the wrists) to check my sugar readings.