Sleep Apnea Linked to Eye Disease, Nerve Damage

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is common in people with type 2 diabetes.…

OSA and many diabetes complications share common oxidative and inflammatory mechanisms. Researchers looked at two serious complications — peripheral neuropathy and sight-threatening retinopathy — that are commonly related to type 2 diabetes to see if they also were associated with sleep apnea. They found strong associations for both. 

One study found that sight-threatening retinopathy (eye disease) was more than twice as common in those with diabetes and OSA. After controlling for other confounders, the study concluded that OSA might play an important role in the development of this serious diabetes-related complication, which is the leading cause of blindness in American adults. 

A second study (388-PP) found that nearly 60 percent of those with diabetes and OSA also had peripheral neuropathy (nerve damage that causes pain or loss of feeling in the toes, feet, legs, hands and arms and can lead to amputations), compared to 27 percent of those without OSA. 

Ongoing studies are exploring the mechanisms involved and whether treating OSA can alleviate the severity of either of these two conditions as well.