The findings were published online ahead of print in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.
“Obstructive sleep apnea is known to be associated with inflammation and oxidative stress, so we hypothesized that it would be associated with peripheral neuropathy in patients with type 2 diabetes,” lead author Dr. Abd Tahrani, a clinical lecturer in endocrinology and diabetes at the University of Birmingham in England, said in a news release from the American Thoracic Society.
However, while the study uncovered an association between obstructive sleep apnea and peripheral neuropathy in diabetic patients, it did not prove a cause-and-effect relationship.
Further research is needed to determine the role of sleep apnea and low blood oxygen levels in the development and progression of nerve damage in patients with type 2 diabetes, and to assess the potential impact of continuous positive airway pressure treatment on diabetic peripheral neuropathy, the study authors said.
Continuous positive airway pressure treatment, or CPAP, keeps obstructive sleep apnea patients’ airways open while they sleep.
More information
The U.S. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke has more about diabetic neuropathy.
SOURCE: American Thoracic Society, news release, June 15, 2012
Please note: This article was published more than one year ago. The facts and conclusions presented may have since changed and may no longer be accurate. And “More information” links may no longer work. Questions about personal health should always be referred to a physician or other health care professional.