Can untreated sleep apnea increase your risk of stroke or diabetes?

Reviewed by Yoshinori Abe, MD

Internal Medicine

Untreated sleep apnea significantly raises your risk of stroke and type 2 diabetes. Repeated drops in oxygen and disrupted sleep strain the cardiovascular system, elevate blood pressure, and impair insulin sensitivity — all key contributors to stroke and diabetes development.

Because sleep apnea often goes undiagnosed, symptoms like loud snoring, morning headaches, daytime fatigue, or waking up gasping should never be ignored. Catching it early can dramatically lower your long-term health risks.

If you're experiencing any warning signs, take a free, instant, online symptom check to better understand what your body may be telling you and get clear guidance on your next steps. It takes just a few minutes, requires no signup, and could be the first move toward protecting your heart, brain, and metabolic health.

Reviewed for medical accuracy: 07/20/2026

What brings you in today?

Can I treat this myself Do I need to see a doctor Where should I go for care I'm concerned about a symptom Concerned about a possible condition My symptoms are getting worse Seeking a second opinion

Not seeing your question? No worries.

Submit your own Question

Explanation

Untreated sleep apnea is a condition where a person stops breathing for short periods during sleep. This can be harmful to your health. According to the medical literature, sleep apnea can increase the risk of serious health problems like stroke and diabetes.

How Does This Happen?

Stroke Risk: Sleep apnea can cause changes in blood flow and pressure, which can increase the chance of having a stroke.
Diabetes Risk: It can also affect how your body uses insulin, which can lead to diabetes.

Why Is This Important?

Heart Health: Sleep apnea is linked to heart problems. Taking care of sleep apnea can help keep your heart healthy.
Overall Health: Managing sleep apnea can improve your quality of life and reduce the risk of other health issues.

If you think you might have sleep apnea, it is important to talk to a healthcare provider. You can start by using a free AI symptom checker to better understand your symptoms, then discuss the results with a medical professional who can help diagnose and manage the condition to keep you healthy.

(References)

Henning RJ, & Anderson WM. (2025). Sleep apnea is a common and dangerous cardiovascular .... Current problems in cardiology, 39242062.
Morsy NE, Farrag NS, Zaki NFW, Badawy AY, Abdelhafez SA, El-Gilany AH, et al. (2019). Obstructive sleep apnea: personal, societal, public health, .... Reviews on environmental health, 31085749.
Rasool G, Alenezi WH, Alanazi RMS, Almadai HA, & Alsharif NN. (2024). Knowledge of Obstructive Sleep Apnea Among the .... Cureus, 38304649.

Thinking about asking ChatGPT?Ask me instead

Tell your friends about us.

We would love to help them too.

For First Time Users

What is Ubie’s Doctor’s Note?

We provide a database of explanations from real doctors on a range of medical topics. Get started by exploring our library of questions and topics you want to learn more about.

Was this page helpful?

Purpose and positioning of servicesUbie Doctor's Note is a service for informational purposes. The provision of information by physicians, medical professionals, etc. is not a medical treatment. If medical treatment is required, please consult your doctor or medical institution. We strive to provide reliable and accurate information, but we do not guarantee the completeness of the content. If you find any errors in the information, please contact us.