Gestational Diabetes And Snoring

Scientists from Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine have investigated gestational diabetes occurrence in women with snoring problems through their pregnancy stages. They found that pregnant women with regular snoring problems have higher chances of developing gestational diabetes. The investigation also found that women are more likely to snore during pregnancy.

This is the initial study which records connection between snoring and gestational diabetes. 189 physically well women participated in the study. All the women are reported to be within their 6-20 weeks of gestational and the 3rd trimester pregnancy period.

Report form the study had shown that gestational diabetes occurrence was 14.3 % for regular snoring pregnant women and only 3.3 % for non-snoring pregnant women. While scientists were considering other factors like body weight, race, ethnicity and age as the main reason for gestational diabetes; there was still a strong link between snoring during pregnancy and gestational diabetes occurrence.

The chief investigating officer, Francesca Facco, M.D., fellow researcher at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine will be presenting the result of the research at the Annual Meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies – SLEEP 2009.

Facco said that interruptions in sleep at the time of pregnancy might cause cardiovascular and metabolism reactions in our body. Facco is to become an Associate Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Feinberg School and a Maternal and Fetal Medicine Physical at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in this coming August.

He explained that the reason for these sequences of actions in the body, which is due to snoring, might be inadequate supply of oxygen and low air flow reacting during night. As a result the sensitive nervous system is stimulated and triggered the blood pressure level to increases. In addition, this might also initiate inflammatory and metabolic variations thereby increasing the effect of gestational diabetes or low sugar acceptance levels during pregnancy.

Facco’s study showed that women became regular snorers as their pregnancy period continued. During the initial pregnancy stages, 11 % of pregnant women were recorded as regular snorers and the number continued to increase to 16.5 % by 3rd trimester. Regular snoring means snoring for more than 3 nights per week.

Facco said, snoring among pregnant women might cause by weight gain and edema (an increase in fluids) which blocks the airway passage. The real connection between snoring and gestational diabetes is still unknown. He added that further studies should be taken to enhance research on the connection between snoring and gestational diabetes in order to formulate procedures to treatment sleep dysfunctions through pregnancy period. Lastly he advised pregnant women bothered by snoring problems to seek consultation from a sleep specialist.

Note : On average 4 % of pregnant women with no diabetes history were detected with gestational diabetes through their pregnancy. This condition is dangerous as the little born babies are more likely to be overweight, which may lead to complications during delivery. The infants may also develop low blood sugar levels and hence at higher risk of obese in years ahead. Most of the pregnant women who develop gestational diabetes do.