OSA Treatment in Oxon/Bucks

[mart9012]

Just thought I would share my bit....

I have had trouble with being sleepy during the day for some years. Im an overweight diabetic and have a neck size that is typical for a OSA sufferer, but throughout my 30's was never aware of a major sleep problem. Certainly I was a snorer and so was my father.. (and interestingly so is my poor 9year old daughter). Anyway, it was my GP who was investigating my poor mood, irritability and tiredness, symptoms often associated with diabetes that referred me to the Churchill Hospital in Oxford. The sleep assessment was a bit strange, they do put sensors on you and you are filmed... I don't like being watched when I sleep and so it took hours to actually get off to sleep! Anyway, two weeks later I went for the results and I was told i had moderate OSA and wouldn't be able to drive without taking treatment.. Well, I was keen to have a good nights sleep anyway so I agreed to a CPAP session culminating in being given a machine.

It has cost me nothing and the treatment definately works for me. The special nursing staff bave me their number and are always available to talk about problems. I have broken masks and twisted a hose to death but they have always been supportive. So my story isn't too bad.. I should also point out that I was homeless for a year and still managed to get power for the machine!! While I wouldn't say it has totally cured my tiredness, it is vastly improved and while I don't drive so much as I once did, I don't get any of the falling asleep symptoms that were so terribly dangerous.

My only issue is that Im sure the NHS cannot afford the latest and greatest of equipment and Im sure there is much better stuff out there for those wh can afford to purchase it privately. But what I have is good enough for now anyway.

[Joe McManus]

Thanks for sharing the story! The homeless part whilst still managing to power the machine is particularly inspiring. Talk about persevering!

I've read in NHS reports than up to two thirds of diabetes patients are at risk of also having OSA. I guess the physique easily culminates in either or both of these illnesses.

[katiemcewan]

http://diabetes.webmd.com/news/20050301/sleep-apnea-treatment-may-improve-diabetes

Researchers found that treating sleep apnea with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) not only helped people sleep better, but it also improved their blood sugar (glucose) levels, which can reduce the risk of complications from diabetes, such as heart and kidney disease.

"With such clear evidence for the high risk of sleep apnea among patients with Type II diabetes, it is encouraging that our data show patients can achieve better control of their glucose levels with CPAP therapy," says researcher James Herdegen, MD, associate professor of medicine at the University of Illinois at Chicago, in a news release.

I'd be interested to get first-hand feedback of a CPAP user on whether it improved their blood suger levels.

[mart9012]

hmmm.. Im not convinced.

Most type 2 diabetics have syndrome X, a genetic condition that screws up the insulin system in the body thropugh insulin resistance. From what I understand the additional insulin plays hell with the "eating" system in the body and the increased resistance exacerbates this forming a viscious circle of resistance, increased insulin and weight gain. Eventually the pancreas can no longer supply enough insulin and diabetes occurs.

As we know that with weight gain we get an increase in physical size including the neck... so it seems obvious that there is an issue there! Whether the airway and neck muscles are affected in other ways I don't know. But to me the relationship between Diabetes Type II and OSA are fairly linear!

Its compicated but i think that getting treatment for OSA is a mood improver and might cause diabetics to simply take more care of themselves! This is obviously opinion but Diabetes if badly controlled leads to depression, terrible sleeping with sweats and terrible irritability. Any treatment taken for oneself must help improve things.

[JackTheSnorer]

I've read about that link too. No one that I know of in my family has diabetes and I don't fancy being the first either. Keeping OSA under control is quite important in this regard. Having read the blog regarding the foods, I'll have to look a bit more into that department as well.