The Association of Pulmonary Functions with Glycemic Control and Microvascular Complications in Patients with Type II Diabetes Mellitus

Objective: Pulmonary system is a target organ for microangiopathic damage in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM). In the present study, the relationships of pulmonary functions with glycemic control, duration of diabetes, and microangiopathic complications have been assessed in type II diabetic patients. Methods: Thirty-one type II diabetic patients with no history of either smoking or cardiopulmonary diseases were enrolled into the study. Blood tests including glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) were performed. Pulmonary functions were assessed with spirometry and carbon monoxide (CO) diffusion capacity. Results: Pulmonary functions were as follows: FEV1 (%): 93.88 +/- 16.12; FVC (%): 86.48 +/- 15.76; FEV1/FVC: 94.79 +/- 12.34; DLCO (mL/min/mmHg): 104.13 +/- 15.00; and DLVA (mL/min/mmHg/lt): 103.26 +/- 13.00. Eleven patients (35.4%) had diabetic nephropathy, 11 patients (35.4%) had retinopathy, 10 patients (32.3%) had sensorimotor neuropathy, and 10 patients (32.3%) did not have any microangiopathic complications. After adjustment for age, gender, and body mass index, there were significant associations between HbA1c and FEV1 (p= 0.024; r=-0.426), FVC (p=0.009, r=-0.482), and FEV 1 /FVC ratio (p=0.028, r=0.415). No association was observed between HbA1c and CO diffusion capacity measurements (for all p>0.05). There was no significant relationship between the duration of diabetes and pulmonary functions (for all p>0.05). Pulmonary function tests were found similar between patients having microangiopathic complications and those without them. Conclusion: Poor glycemic control may cause functional alterations of restrictive type in patients with type II DM.