Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Glucose Metabolism

Many adults who are overweight have obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) which disrupts sleep and makes it difficult to breath during the night. OSA increases the risk for a person to become insulin resistant and diabetic. It is not known why OSA causes this problem, i.e., whether it is disrupted sleep or lack of oxygen., which can change how the body handles glucose in adipose tissue, muscle tissue and liver. The purpose of this research study is to determine the key issues and mechanisms responsible for dysregulated glucose metabolism in people with OSA. The investigators will do this by comparing glucose metabolism in people who have OSA, and those who do not, and by evaluating the effect of treating OSA by providing continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) or simply oxygen during the night. The proposed study will evaluate the primary causes(s) (hypoxia, sleep fragmentation, or both) and pathophysiological mechanisms responsible for the OSA-associated metabolic abnormalities. Knowing the primary cause of Obstructive Sleep Apnea and pathophysiological mechanisms responsible for the OSA-associated metabolic abnormalities could help develop potentially novel therapeutic strategies to provide treatment for adults in improving OSA and associated comorbidities.