Snoring: A possible diabetes
risk factor

Snoring may put women at risk for diabetes. A group of healthy women ages 40 to 65 were asked about their snoring habits. Then, every two years for a ten-year period, the women were asked if they had developed type 2 diabetes.

In that time, nearly 2,000 women developed the disease. Regular snorers had double the risk of developing diabetes compared with nonsnorers. This was true regardless of other diabetes risk factors. Occasional snorers had a slightly higher chance of getting diabetes than nonsnorers.

Regular snoring may raise insulin levels and cause resistance. Experts suggest regular snorers try to reduce their risk for snoring and diabetes through regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight and not smoking.

American Journal of Epidemiology, Vol. 155, No. 5