On a separate post, I mentioned that obstructive sleep apnea increases the risk of type 2 diabetes.

Now, in pregnant women, sleep apnea greatly increases the incidence of gestational diabetes and high blood pressure.

Gestational diabetes is the pregnancy-induced type of diabetes.

As explained by researcher Hatim Youssef, D.O. of UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School:

"The repetitive decrease in oxygen that occurs during the night in someone with sleep apnea heightens the body's 'fight or flight' state, which can raise blood pressure.

The body also secretes more hormones such as cortisol and epinephrine, and the body responds by producing more glucose coupled with a decreased sensitivity to insulin, which can lead to diabetes."

Pregnancy can worsen sleep apnea due to the woman's increased weight.

These findings make the importance of treating sleep apnea (nasal CPAP) in pregnant women, because the long term effects aren't known yet, especially to the fetus.

Therefore pregnant women who are obese, hypertensive and diabetic should take extra precaution and must be evaluated for sleep apnea.

The above association of sleep apnea to gestational diabetes and high blood pressure was presented recently at the American Thoracic Society 2007 International Conference.

Read the full report.