Researchers who evaluated 279 adults with type 2 diabetes suggest that people suffering from type 2 diabetes might be at an increased risk for obstructive sleep apnea, which occurs when collapsed tissues in the airway during sleep cause very shallow breathing or stopped breathing.

The study, which appears in the most recent issue of Endocrine Practice, found that 36% of the subjects suffered from obstructive sleep apnea. It also indicated that obstructive sleep apnea was particularly common in men over age 62.

Researchers suggest that because treatment of obstructive sleep apnea has the potential to both decrease blood pressure and improve glycemic control, individuals with type 2 diabetes should be regularly screened for the presence of sleep apnea.