World Diabetes Day - November 14th!

Today, on World Diabetes Day, we at CPAP Supply USA promote awareness for a increasingly common chronic condition in both children, adolescents and adults. It is currently thought that approximately 40% of individuals with Obstructive Sleep Apnea also have some form of diabetes, and new studies have shown a link between treating Obstructive Sleep Apnea and the improvement of diabetes. From the World Diabetes Day website, a little information on this day's current purpose and inception:

"World Diabetes Day (WDD) is the primary global awareness campaign of the diabetes world. It was introduced in 1991 by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and the World Health Organization (WHO) in response to the alarming rise in diabetes around the world. In 2007, the United Nations marked the Day for the first time with the passage of the United Nations World Diabetes Day Resolution in December 2006, which made the existing World Diabetes Day an official United Nations World Health Day.

World Diabetes Day is a campaign that features a new theme chosen by the International Diabetes Federation each year to address issues facing the global diabetes community. While the themed campaigns last the whole year, the day itself is celebrated on November 14, to mark the birthday of Frederick Banting who, along with Charles Best, first conceived the idea which led to the discovery of insulin in 1922.

In 2007 and 2008, the theme of World Diabetes Day is Diabetes in Children and Adolescents. Diabetes is one of the most common chronic diseases of childhood. Type 1 diabetes is growing by 3% per year in children and adolescents, and at an alarming 5% per year among pre-school children. It is estimated that 70,000 children under 15 develop type 1 diabetes each year (almost 200 children a day). Currently, an estimated 440,000 children live with type 1 diabetes globally. Type 2 diabetes was once seen as a disease of adults but today, it is growing at alarming rates in children and adolescents.

The International Diabetes Federation's two year focus on children through the World Diabetes Day campaign, aims to increase awareness among parents and caregivers, teachers, healthcare professionals, politicians and the public."

The Link Between OSA and Diabetes?

Sleep apnea and diabetes have been shown to have significant link (a link that is not fully understand as of yet) and physicians who treated individuals with diabetes are urged to have patients screened for Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Below are some interesting links that touch on current research about the link between sleep apnea and diabetes:

Sleep Apnea Treatment May Improve Diabetes (WebMD)

The Sleep Apnea-Diabetes Connection 

Doctors Urged to Take Link Between Sleep Apnea and Diabetes More Seriously

Sleep Apnea and Type 2 Diabetes