Postpartum resolution of obstructive sleep apnea in women with gestational diabetes and the relationship with glucose metabolism

Excerpt

Gestational diabetes (GDM) affects 4 to 9% of pregnancy. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is increasingly recognized as a risk factor for GDM [1]. OSA is a common sleep disorder characterized by complete or partial obstruction of the upper airway causing intermittent hypoxia and sleep fragmentation. During pregnancy, changes in hormonal status, mucosal edema, and body habitus may predispose women to OSA, especially in obese women. In a non-pregnant population, OSA is a risk factor for diabetes [1]. No studies have explored whether OSA improves after delivery in women with GDM and OSA diagnosed during pregnancy, and how this relates to glucose metabolism. In addition, how other sleep disturbances (i.e., poor sleep quality and inadequate sleep duration), shown to be diabetes risk factors in non-pregnant population, affect glucose metabolism during postpartum period has not been extensively explored. …