Assessment of pulmonary functions in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients

Background: Several studies have demonstrated that pulmonary functions in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients (T2DM) have possible associations between pulmonary function abnormalities and diabetic renal micro-angiopathy, and retinopathy. We aim to assess pulmonary functions in T2DM patients. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study among T2DM patients visiting the outpatient department (OPD) of Pulmonary Medicine. T2DM patients aged between 40 to 65 years of either sex were recruited and spirometry was done. Results: Total 340 T2DM patients (162 males and 178 females) participated in study. The mean age of the patients was 56.24±6.87 and 51.59±7.15 years in uncontrolled (n=78) and controlled diabetics (n=262) respectively. Non-significant change in body mass index (BMI) was observed in uncontrolled diabetics (26.49±4.35) as compared to controlled diabetics (25.77±3.72). Significant increase (p<0.001) in fasting blood glucose and glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) was recorded in uncontrolled diabetics (241.10±49.79, 9.21±1.14) as compared to controlled diabetics (93.17±8.40, 5.72±0.60). Significant change (p<0.001) in mean FEV1, mean FVC values and Mean FEV1/FVC ratio (%) were noted in uncontrolled diabetics (2.21±0.57, 3.50±0.48, 62.69±12.18) as compared to controlled diabetics (2.47±0.42, 3.68±0.37, 67.01±8.43). Results suggested that obstructive and restrictive lung impairment was more in uncontrolled diabetics (35.9%, 6.4%) as compared to controlled diabetics (13.4%, 3.8%). Conclusion: Current study indicates that obstructive rather than restrictive impairment of lung function was significantly associated with T2DM.