Obstructive Sleep Apnea in an Obese Patient with Diabetes Mellitus: A Case Report

Sleep apnea may accelerate metabolic abnormalities, possibly through progressive elevation of stress hormones and cytokines such as cortisol, IL-6 and TNFα. Furthermore, daytime sleepiness is frequently associated with obesity, diabetes, and insulin resistance, independently of sleep disordered breathing. We herein report an overweight patient with diabetes mellitus who sought help with weight reduction. He was diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and an uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) and tonsillectomy was performed. He experienced significant weight reduction and normalization of blood sugar after the operation. OSA may have been a possible cause of hyperglycemia and obesity in this patient.