Worried About Weight and Diabetes? Why Fixing Your Sleep May Help First July 18, 2025 Worried About Weight and Diabetes? Why Fixing Your Sleep May Help First If you’ve been struggling with your weight or managing your blood sugar, you might be focusing on diet and exercise — and rightly so. But there’s another powerful, often-overlooked factor at play: your sleep. More specifically, undiagnosed or untreated sleep apnea could be silently working against all your health goals. We’ve long known that carrying extra weight can increase your risk of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). But new research shows this relationship goes both ways. Poor sleep — especially the kind disrupted by sleep apnea — can actually cause weight gain and make managing diabetes more difficult.1,2 Here’s how. Sleep deprivation plays havoc with your hormones. It decreases leptin (which helps you feel full) and increases ghrelin (which makes you feel hungry), leading to stronger cravings for high-calorie, sugary foods.1 Add in the fatigue that comes with poor-quality sleep, and you’ve got a recipe for overeating and low motivation to exercise.1 In fact, people with untreated sleep apnea may gain more weight than others with the same BMI and lifestyle.1 One study found that people with OSA gained nearly 7 kg more in the year before their diagnosis than similar individuals without sleep apnea.1 It’s not just about appetite, either — it’s about energy. Daytime sleepiness from poor sleep can make even basic movement feel like a chore, especially if you're already overweight and experience shortness of breath with activity.1 When it comes to diabetes, the connection is just as concerning. Sleep apnea limits oxygen during the night, and this oxygen deprivation changes how your body handles glucose.2 It promotes insulin resistance — a key factor in type 2 diabetes — and increases blood sugar levels over time.2 Research even suggests that sleep apnea can increase the risk of diabetes in some people and worsen complications in those already diagnosed.2 Not only does sleep apnea affect your day-to-day energy and cravings, but it also puts strain on your cardiovascular system. Over time, this contributes to higher blood pressure, increased risk of heart disease, and greater chances of diabetic complications like stroke.2 The good news? Sleep apnea has effective treatment, often with a simple device called CPAP. CPAP is a bedside machine that gently blows air through a mask to keep your airway open, eliminating symptoms.3 If you’re finding it hard to lose weight, manage your blood sugar, or feel rested during the day, it might be time to look beyond your plate or gym routine. Talk to your doctor about the possibility of sleep apnea and ask whether a home sleep study could help you get answers. Fixing your sleep might just be the first — and most powerful — step toward feeling like yourself again. How Sove CPAP Clinic Can Help Founded in 2008, Sove CPAP Clinic has grown to become a leading provider of respiratory and sleep services and products in Australia, with over 60 clinics nationwide. Our comprehensive clinical team includes Respiratory & Sleep Specialists, Sleep Technologists, and CPAP Consultants, ensuring that you receive comprehensive and personalised care. All medical procedures, including sleep studies and lung function testing, are bulk billed to all Australians, with minimal wait time. If you would like to speak to a Respiratory & Sleep Physician, book a bulk-billed sleep study, or seek advice for your sleep apnea, you can reach us at 1300 76 29 39 or info@thecpapclinic.com.au. ALWAYS FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS FOR USE. CPAP is used for Obstructive Sleep Apnea treatment. When considering whether a sleep study or CPAP is right for you, speak to your doctor. Medicare criteria and T&Cs apply. References Wiseman, Jill. “How Weight Affects Sleep Apnea.” Sleep Foundation, 28 Aug. 2020, www.sleepfoundation.org/sleep-apnea/weight-loss-and-sleep-apnea. Cornejo, Corinna. “How Does Sleep Apnea Affect Diabetes?” Healthline, Healthline Media, 8 June 2022, www.healthline.com/health/diabetes/sleep-apnea-and-diabetes#managing-sleep-apnea. McCrimmon, Katie Kerwin, and UCHealth. “Overnight Cure for Poor Sleep: The Benefits of CPAP.” UCHealth Today, 2 June 2020, www.uchealth.org/today/benefits-of-cpap-for-sleep-apnea/.
