A study conducted at the University of Chicago has found that obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) adversely affects glucose control in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Researchers conducted overnight polysomnography tests on 60 individuals with type 2 diabetes to determine if they had OSA. They also assessed the participants’ glucose control by obtaining blood samples for hemoglobin A1c, which is the main clinical marker of glycemic control in diabetes.

They found that 77 percent of participants had OSA, although only five individuals had been previously evaluated for it. In addition, researchers said that more severe OSA was associated with poorer glucose control, which leads to more severe cases of the condition.

"Our findings have important clinical implications as they support the hypothesis that reducing the severity of OSA may improve glycemic control," said the study’s lead author Dr Renee Aronsohn. "Effective treatment of OSA may represent a novel and non-pharmacologic intervention in the management of type 2 diabetes."

Sleep apnea occurs when individuals have their breathing briefly interrupted while they are sleeping. The National Institutes of Health reports that the condition affects as many as 12 million Americans.

Treatment options include lifestyle changes such as weight loss and avoiding alcohol. Oral appliances are also believed to help, according to the American Sleep Apnea Association.