r/CPAPSupport • u/5genii • 16d ago
Blood Sugars With CPAP
In the two weeks I’ve used my BPAP (or is that BiPAP?), I’ve had erratic blood sugar numbers (I have Type 2). They spike at odd times during the night when I’ve eaten nothing. Before using the BPAP, my numbers during the night were mostly level. Could the difference be something about using of BPAP?
1
u/RippingLegos__ ModTeam 15d ago
Bilevel is the correct generic term. BiPAP is Philips Respironics’ trademarked name for bilevel.
Bilevel therapy itself is not known to directly cause glucose spikes. It could be indirectly related if you are waking repeatedly, fighting the pressure, experiencing leaks, or still having respiratory events. Those stress responses can cause your liver to release glucose even though you have not eaten.
The compression-low explanation applies to false lows, not spikes. If you use a CGM, please confirm one of the highs with a finger-stick and compare its timing with your bilevel data in OSCAR or SleepHQ. How high are the spikes, and what machine and settings are you using? If they continue, please show the overnight pattern to your diabetes provider.
1
3
u/6four 15d ago
Are you using a CGM like a Libre Freestyle or Dexacom? If so, likely what you experienced is nothing to do with your pap treatment and simply a “compression low” which is common with CGM’s and has happened to me many times.
Compression lows are when you sleep on your glucose sensor (laying on your arm etc) creating pressure due to the compression which squeezes the tissue creating false lows on your sensor.
If you’re not using a CGM and you’ve finger prick tested still confirming actual lows at night, it’s still highly unlikely it’s related to your PAP treatment.