My First Night/Diabetes

[purpleapnea]

I stumbled upon this forum recently and know it will be a great resource. Well, I just had my first night with my CPAP machine. I didn't think I'd have any problems with it but I did, nothing drastic but problems non the less. I didn't have any leakage, but boy was my mouth dry. I had the moisture level turned all the way up but it did not seem to help. I had the thing on for what I thought was hours but when I turned over and looked at the clock it was 2:15am. I had to get up for an hour or so as I had my moments of claustrophobia. At about 4 I took off the mask and went without it the rest of the night. Hopefully I'll have better success tonight. I'm encouraged by everything I hear and I'm sure there is a learning curve.

One other thing, I'm a diabetic and would be curious about how CPAP has effected those in similar situations.

Thanks in advance.

[Pugsy]

Welcome to the forum.

Would you please take the time to add your equipment to your profile like I have done mine?
Here's how if you don't know.
wiki/index.php/Registering_Equipment_in_User_Profile

Dry mouth is usually an indication of mouth breathing. If using a nasal interface mask it may or may not indicate loss of pressure through your mouth which isn't good for your therapy.
For some people it doesn't take much mouth breathing to dry the mouth out. I am one of those..sometimes have dry mouth but my leak report doesn't show a large leak.
Even people who use a full face mask (and therapy pressure is not lost) can have dry mouth and the humidifier just can't add enough moisture.

Best thing is to keep mouth shut at all times and breathe through your nose. Easier said than done sometimes. There are products available to help add moisture to the mouth. Biotene has several...look in the mouthwash section of most stores.
Chin strap or tape or polygrip can be used to help keep the mouth shut if the mouth breathing is a significant problem.

The humidifier won't help with dry mouth at all using a nasal interface mask. The moisturized air is going up the nose and hopefully down the airway. It isn't supposed to go into the mouth.
Even using a full face mask where moisturized air is entering the mouth, the humidifier may not be able to add enough moisture even at the highest of settings. All depends on your own hydration and just how much mouth breathing is going on.

Can't offer any insight about the diabetes...I don't have that problem but many members here at the forum do and they will chime in when they see your post.

[chunkyfrog]

I found out the hard way that diabetes and mouth breathing can lead to some stubborn gum problems.
Full face mask, chin strap, "chin-ups", or (horrors) --tape can help.
Do what is comfortable for you--My cpap helps with my diabetes control by giving me enough rest
so I can exercise and follow a better diet (low carb)

[purpleapnea]

Thanks for the feedback.

[xenablue]

Ditto what chunkyfrog said - be very diligent about caring for your teeth and gums. My dentist now has me getting cleaning 3x per year to avoid any issues with heart, diabetes and the OSA.

CPAP therapy hasn't done a lot for my BG numbers, however when I do have a really good sleep without waking at all, my fasting numbers are much better, but overall no real change - A1C before CPAP was 5.8% and my last labs were 5.5% and 5.58%.

Cheers,
xena

[chunkyfrog]

Overall, I feel the cpap effect on diabetes is more indirect; I feel better, therfore, I take better care of myself.
I did, however note a slight spike the morning after the last power outage-(cpap deprived night).
Edit: (the spike was my fasting blood glucose.)

[kgresgott]

I am diabetic also (type 2) so I am interested int is as well.

-Kathryn

[chunkyfrog]

Very important to note: The effect on blood sugar was indirect and not more than 5 points.
CPAP will not cure diabetes; but it can help control it--just not without proper exercise and nutrition.
Once my blood sugar was under control, the gums got better, and the dry mouth was better, too.
I've heard that T2 is harder to control than T1. I believe it.
More variables.

[Goofproof]

Over 6 years havn't seen a improvment, but the fact you sleep better and have more energy, that's got to be a plus, for my problems it doesn't help as I can't take advantage of either, but some might. (I'm using 200 units of two typed of insulin daily and still am A1C of 6 or higher.) Jim

[Janknitz]

Getting good, quality sleep is only going to be beneficial to your diabetes. Poor sleep messes with the hormones that ultimately control insulin levels and blood glucose.

And it's important not to ignore the other side of the same coin--getting your diabetes under control will help your sleep and--most importantly--your cardiovascular function.

VERY IMPORTANT--Be sure you read Dr. Bernstein's Diabetes Solution and read the website Bloodsugar 101. The American Diabetes Association recommendations for diet and blood sugar control are very poor and do more to keep you sick than help you be well with your diabetes. You don't have to carb up and shoot up--reducing carbohydrates in your diet will improve your blood sugar control and your overall health.