We are constantly being told about the ‘diabetes epidemic’ and how diabetes is the single most serious health problem for the developed world. As a result, huge public and private investments are being made in prevention, treatment and hopefully cure.
But here’s a question: How come the same investments aren’t being made in dealing with sleep disordered breathing?
After all, diabetes affects only around 2.8% of the population … whereas sleep apnoea is estimated to affect almost 8% of the population, and around 30% of the adult population have some form of serious sleep disordered breathing condition. Given that sleep disordered breathing is a proven CAUSE of type 2 diabetes, you’d think SDB would get serious attention as a possible part of the solution.
At the very least, treatment of sleep disordered breathing can help in the treatment of type 2 diabetes, so it should at least get equal attention.
It could even be argued that SDB should get more attention than diabetes because of the clear links between SDB and other serious consequences and co-morbidities, including hypertension, gastro oesophageal reflux disease (GERD), cardiovascular disease, depression, obesity, loss of libido and impotence. Factor in the further issues of quality of life and safety and SDB truly is a major health issue.
What do YOU think?