Background: Dyspnoea on exertion in a diabetic patient readily arouses the suspicion of cardiovascular disease and/or physical de conditioning. Diabetic lung involvement did not gain wide recognition until recently. Hence this study was undertaken to know the prevalence of pulmonary dysfunction in diabetic patients.

Aims

1. To study the prevalence of lung dysfunction in diabetes mellitus.
2. To co-relate the duration of diabetes and pulmonary dysfunction
3. To categorise the pattern of pulmonary dysfunction among these patients.

Materials and Methods: 50 patients with diabetes mellitus who attend the O.P of medicine department, Govt. Medical College, Kottayam underwent pulmonary function test. It was a cross sectional study.

Results: Statistical analysis revealed that there was reduction of FEV₁ and FVC without a reduction in FEV₁/ FVC ratio. As the duration of diabetes increased, there was a proportionate reduction in both FEV₁ and FVC. This showed that there is a restrictive pattern of lung function abnormality.

Conclusion: Our study showed that diabetes mellitus is associated with a statistically significant impaired pulmonary function in a restrictive pattern. Since our results applied to diabetic sub population free from pulmonary disease It would be worthwhile to investigate the potential pulmonary complications in those patients with diabetes and dyspnoea.

Keywords: diabetes mellitus, pulmonary function tests, FEV₁, FVC, FEV/FVC.

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Dr Sheela Kurian V

Additional Professor, Dept of Medicine, GMCH Kottayam