ObjectiveTo investigate the relationship between glucose metabolism and endocannabinoid system (ECS) in patients with obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS).MethodsA total of 64 OSAHS patients (18 cases of mild OSAHS, 24 cases of moderate OSAHS, 22 cases of severe OSAHS) and 24 controls were included in the study. Body mass index, waist circumference, fasting blood lipids, fasting blood glucose, fasting blood insulin, homeostasis model of assessment for insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR), polysomnography and endogenous cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1R) protein expression levels in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were measured in participants.ResultsThe incidence of diabetes and impaired fasting glucose (IFG) in the OSAHS group was significantly higher than that in the control group (28.12% vs. 8.33%). With the increase of apnea hypopnea index (AHI), HOMA-IR and the expression levels of CB1R protein increased gradually (HOMA-IR: 2.40±0.90, 2.34±0.59, 2.94±0.99, 3.46±0.77, respectively; CB1R protein: 0.04±0.01, 0.37±0.09, 0.40±0.07, 0.62±0.14, respectively). Correlation analysis showed that HOMA-IR, AHI and the expression of CB1R protein were significantly positively correlated with each other (P<0.05).ConclusionOSAHS patients are prone to insulin resistance, IFG and diabetes mellitus, which are closely related to the activation of ECS induced by OSAHS.