title: Decreased nocturnal glucose variability in non-diabetic patients with sleep apnea: a pilot study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Obstructive sleep apnea has been sho be associated with impaired glucose metabolism and overt diabetes mellitus. However, the effect of hypoxic episodes on nocturnal glucose regulation in non-diabetic patients is unknown.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effect of hypoxemia and nocturnal glucose homeosatsis in non-diabetic patients with sleep apnea.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seven non-diabetic patients with moderate to severe sleep apnea were connected to a continuous glucose-monitoring sensor while undergoing overnight polysomnography. Mean SpO2 and percentage of time spent at SpO2 90% were recorded. The correlation between mean glucose levels, the difference between consecutive mean glucose measurements (glucose variability) and the corresponding oxygen saturation variables were determined in each patient during REM and non-REM sleep.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No consistent correlation was found forthe individual patient between oxygen saturation variables and glucose levels during sleep. However, a lower mean SpO2 correlated with decreased glucose variability during sleep (r = 0.79, P = 0.034). This effect was primarily evident during REM sleep in patients with significant, compared to those with mild, oxygen desaturations during sleep (> 30% vs. < 10% of sleeping tim spent with SpO2 < 90%) (P = 0.03).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Severe nocturnal hypoxemia in non-diabetic patients with moderate to severe sleep apnea might affect glucose regulation primarily during REM sleep.
authors: Department of Pediatrics, Assaf Harofeh Medical Center, Zerifin, affiliated with Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, Israel. elizura@gmail.com
authors: Arnon
authors: A
authors: Elizur
authors: Department of Medicine C and Diabetes Unit, Assaf Harofeh Medical Center, Zerifin, affiliated with Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, Israel.
authors: Amit
authors: A
authors: Maliar
authors: Sleep Laboratory, Assaf Harofeh Medical Center, Zerifin, affiliated with Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, Israel.
authors: Isaac
authors: I
authors: Shpirer
authors: Department of Medicine D, Assaf Harofeh Medical Center, Zerifin, affiliated with Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, Israel.
authors: Andreas E
authors: AE
authors: Buchs
authors: Department of Medicine C and Diabetes Unit, Assaf Harofeh Medical Center, Zerifin, affiliated with Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, Israel.
authors: Eli
authors: E
authors: Shiloah
authors: Department of Medicine C and Diabetes Unit, Assaf Harofeh Medical Center, Zerifin, affiliated with Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, Israel.
authors: Micha J
authors: MJ
authors: Rapoport
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010100:Oxygen / Q000378:metabolism*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D017286:Polysomnography; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012894:Sleep Stages / Q000502:physiology; D012895:Sleep, REM / Q000502:physiology; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D010100:Oxygen