Pulmonary function in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND: In type I diabetes mellitus, lung function has been investigated in several clinical studies, but there are few data concerning pulmonary function abnormalities in patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to assess the presence of pulmonary function abnormalities in patients with NIDDM and to verify the possible associations between diabetic renal microangiopathy, retinopathy and diabetes control. METHOD AND PATIENTS: Thirty patients with NIDDM were collected and divided into two similar groups: subjects with retinopathy and/or diabetic glomerulopathy (group 1, n = 15) and patients without any complications (group 2, n = 15). 17 were males and 13 females, aged from 45 to 81 years. They had had diabetes for 3-23 years and were studied at the Division of Internal Medicine, with an outpatient service for diabetic patients. All patients were non-smokers. The presence of diabetic glomerulopathy was determined by measuring the 24-hour protein excretion rate using the nephelometric method. The presence of retinopathy was determined by using ophthalmoscopy. Glycosylated hemoglobin was measured as an indicator of glycemic control. We performed a global spirometry and measured pulmonary diffusion capacity by the single-breath method corrected by alveolar volume. RESULTS: We found a significant reduction in lung diffusion capacity for carbon monoxide (DL(CO)) in the group of patients with other signs of diabetic microangiopathy (p < 0.005) and a significative correlation between DL(CO )and the grade of albuminuria (r = -0.83, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Pulmonary function abnormalities, in particular a reduction in diffusion capacity, are common in patients with NIDDM and signs of diabetic microangiopathy. A possible explanation is related to an impaired pulmonary microvasculature and alveolar epithelial basal lamina.     

Pulmonary tuberculosis in patients with diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes mellitus has been reported to modify the presenting features of pulmonary tuberculosis, but there are varying data, particularly regarding the association with lower lung field involvement. OBJECTIVES: To determine whether diabetes mellitus alters the clinical and radiographic manifestations of tuberculosis in nonimmunocompromised hosts and to define the determinants of lower lung field involvement. METHODS: A retrospective review of the records of all patients with tuberculosis and diabetes mellitus seen during a 14-year period and of an age- and sex-matched nondiabetic control group with tuberculosis was carried out. The duration of symptoms, tuberculin reaction, bacteriologic and radiographic findings of the two groups were compared. RESULTS: The presence of diabetes mellitus was found not to have an effect on patients' symptomatology, bacteriology results, tuberculin reaction and localization of pulmonary infiltrates. On the other hand, fewer diabetic patients were smear-positive and fewer had reticulonodular opacities compared with the control patients. A higher number of insulin-dependent diabetic patients presented with cavitary disease as compared with nondiabetic controls. Lower lung field tuberculosis was significantly associated with female gender and, in patients older than 40 years, was more frequently observed in diabetics. CONCLUSION: These data show that diabetes does not affect the presenting features of pulmonary tuberculosis to a large extent and is only associated with lower lung field disease in older patients.     

Pulmonary function in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus with limited joint mobility

Patients with insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) and limited joint mobility (LJM) were studied to determine if altered respiratory mechanics were another manifestation of a generalized disturbance in collagen metabolism. Lung volumes and maximal expiratory flow volume curves were measured in 23 patients with IDDM. Patients were divided into 2 groups: (1) 11 without LJM, and (2) 12 with severe LJM. The groups were matched for age, sex, and glycemic control but not for duration of IDDM. In patients with severe LJM, forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) were significantly decreased (p less than 0.05). Total lung capacity (TLC), thoracic gas volume (TGV) at functional residual capacity (FRC) and residual volume (RV) were also significantly lower (p less than 0.05) in the severe LJM group. There was no evidence of air-flow obstruction in either group. Our results demonstrate an association between severe LJM and a significant decrease in lung volumes. This could be due to decreased lung compliance or restriction of chest wall expansion.     

Lung function in patients with diabetes mellitus

Lung function was assessed in 35 nonsmoking adults with insulin dependent diabetes mellitus and 34 matched control subjects. The tests included spirometry, lung volumes, CO transfer factor and maximum respiratory pressures. Additionally, in subjects under 35 years of age (20 patients and 18 controls) measurements of CO transfer factor were obtained during exercise at three different workloads. Random blood glucose and glycosylated haemoglobin were measured and each patient's diabetic history was recorded. The total lung capacity (TLC) in the patients was lower than those recorded for the controls (P less than 0.05) but there were no significant differences in respiratory muscle strength between the groups. In the young group of patients (less than 35 years) the transfer factor for CO (TLCO) was similar but the volume corrected transfer coefficient (KCO) was higher at rest than in the controls (P less than 0.02). The KCO remained high in these patients during exercise. The older patients (greater than 35 years) showed a lower TLCO (P less than 0.01) with a similar KCO to the controls. The association of a reduction in TLC and higher KCO in the young patients suggests an extrapulmonary mechanism of lung volume restriction. This is not attributable to muscle weakness but might be due to limited expansion of the rib cage. In older patients any tendency for KCO to rise may be masked by disease-related changes in the pulmonary microvasculature.     

Pulmonary tuberculosis in patients with different types of diabetes mellitus

Comparing the clinical and X-ray characteristics of pulmonary tuberculosis developed in 110 patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (Group 1) and in 40 patients with type 2 (Group 2) revealed significant differences between these groups. An acuter onset and rapid progression, formation of extensive lesions with multiple, but small decay areas were typical for type 1 diabetes patients. Intensive chemotherapy for tuberculosis according to the standard WHO regimens is successfully tolerated by patients with different types of diabetes mellitus. Slight changes in hepatic functions (elevated levels of total bilirubin and aminopherases) are not beyond the ranges of allowable fluctuations and they do not prevent the first stage of treatment to be performed. The short duration of this stage of treatment is a determinant of a satisfactory tolerance of intensive chemotherapy at its first most loaded stage. The outcomes of the therapy were more favourable in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus. Their bacterial isolation ceased early and more frequently and decay cavities closed in a larger number of cases as compared with patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. The higher efficiency of treatment in Group 1 patients was caused not only by the specific features of the genesis of a tuberculous process and the nature of its clinical and X-ray manifestation, but also by differences in isoniazid inactivation processes. The significantly higher incidence of a slight inactivation of this drug in Group 1 patients determined its higher blood concentration and more pronounced therapeutical effect.     

Characteristics of pulmonary function in patients with diabetes mellitus

The incidence of pulmonary diseases among diabetics in Japan has been found to be more than 50% at death. This suggests the existence of some pulmonary risk factors. We analyzed pulmonary functions in 50 diabetics (31 males and 19 females) without overt lung disease, compared to 21 healthy male subjects of the same age (around 50 years old). Forced vital capacity and timed vital capacity were lower in diabetics (P less than 0.005). Diffusing capacity was also decreased in male diabetics (P less than 0.05). Among diabetics, a decrease in the diffusing capacity was dominant in patients with diabetic retinopathy, which correlated with an increasing duration of their diabetes. Analysis by the partial correlation method which accounts for the smoking index showed that standardized indices for peripheral airflow in male diabetics decreased significantly as the patient's age increased (P less than 0.005); the rate of decrement was greater than that of the control subjects. Diabetic patients showed abnormal lung function in the peripheral airways which increased with age and gas transfer was also affected by diabetic microangiopathy as well as the duration of diabetes. These changes seemed to deteriorate progressively, possibly combining and contributing to respiratory insufficiency in critical pathological conditions.     

Pulmonary function and artery blood analysis of diabetes mellitus

The widespread and depth-in investigations on the pulmonary change in DM have been documented abroad. Some revealed that the abnormalities of pulmonary function usually exist in DM. There has been no similar report found in China so far. In this study, ventilation, small airway function (V25 and V50), diffusion capacity and artery blood gas studies have been done in 60 DM and 62 healthy subjects respectively. The results have shown that there is a significant difference between NIDDM group and control group (P less than 0.05) in V50, V25, DLCO and the reduced value of PaO2, and there exists remarkably significant difference between the IDDM group and control group (P less than 0.01) in the decreased values of TLC, FEV1.0%, V50, V25, DLCO, PaCO2 and PaO2.     

Left ventricular function in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

This study showed that the mean left ventricular ejection fraction, end-diastolic volume, end-systolic volume, and muscle mass are comparable in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus to gender-matched patients who do not have diabetes mellitus, but abnormal ejection fraction is more common in men, although not in women, with diabetes mellitus than without. The ejection fraction was higher and the volumes and muscle mass were lower in women than men in the presence or absence of diabetes mellitus.     

Impaired salivary function in patients with noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus with xerostomia

To test this hypothesis, salivary function was measured by quantitative salivary scintigraphy in noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) patients, as well as in age- and sex-matched controls for comparison. Seventy-two patients with NIDDM history of over 10 years and 36 healthy age- and sex-matched controls were enrolled in the study. All of the 72 NIDDM patients had good blood sugar control. None presented with autonomic neuropathy. These 72 NIDDM patients were separated into two subgroups. Group 1: 36 patients with xerostomia and Group 2: 36 patients without xerostomia. After intravenous injection of 5mCi Tc-99m pertechnetate, sequential images at 1 min/frame were acquired for 30 min. The 1st and 15th minute uptake ratios (UR) were calculated from the tracer uptakes in the four major salivary glands over the background regions of interest. Saliva excretion was stimulated by one tablet of 200 mg ascorbic acid given orally 15-min postinjection of the tracer. Then, the maximal excretion ratios (ER) of the four major salivary glands after sialagogue stimulation were calculated. Significantly poorer salivary function was found, represented by significantly decreased UR and ER values, in 36 NIDDM patients with xerostomia, when compared with 36 NIDDM patients without xerostomia and 36 healthy controls, via objective and quantitative salivary scintigraphy. It has been speculated that impaired salivary function contributes to NIDDM with xerostomia. However, further studies with a larger series of NIDDM patients are necessary to confirm our findings.     

Pulmonary complications in diabetes mellitus

Clear decrements in lung function have been reported in patients with diabetes over the past two decades, and many reports have suggested plausible pathophysiological mechanisms. However, there are no reports of functional limitations of activities of daily living ascribable to pulmonary disease in patients with diabetes. This review attempts to summarize the available information from the present literature, to describe the nature of the lung dysfunction in diabetes and the emerging clinical implications of such dysfunction.     

Auditory function in young patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus

Comprehension of the effect of diabetes mellitus on auditory function has been hindered by the fact that previous studies have evaluated hearing function in heterogeneous groups of patients with diabetes mellitus, thus giving conflicting results. We have performed audiometric studies in 46 consecutive patients. 13 with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes mellitus (group 1) and 33 with type 1 diabetes mellitus of more than 3 years of duration (group 2), of 14 to 40 years of age. The results were compared to an age-matched control group. Pure-tone auditory thresholds were significantly higher in all frequencies 250-8,000 Hz in both groups when compared to the control subjects. Ten patients, all of which belonged to group 2, had auditory thresholds above 30 dB in at least one frequency, showing a conversational hearing loss that ranged between 11 and 44%. However, none of them referred subjective hypoacusia. Univariate analysis revealed significant associations between auditory thresholds and age, duration of disease as well as retinopathy, but not with neuropathy, HbA1c or hypoglycaemic episodes. Only age and duration of disease independently correlated with an auditory threshold using multiple regression. We conclude that type 1 diabetes mellitus can cause mild sensorineural hearing impairment which correlates with age and duration of disease.     

Left ventricular systolic function in middle-aged patients with diabetes mellitus

In cross-sectional studies of asymptomatic diabetic patients, multiple abnormalities in left ventricular (LV) function have been found. Long-term significance of these abnormalities is unknown because follow-up studies have not been previously performed. LV ejection fraction (EF) by radionuclide angiocardiography was examined in middle-aged control Subjects (n = 44), in patients with insulin-dependent (IDDM) (n = 32) and non-insulin-dependent (NIDDM) (n = 32) diabetes mellitus at baseline and after 4-year follow-up. At baseline, all study subjects were free from cardiovascular disease. LVEF at rest did not differ between the groups at baseline. The decrease in LVEF at rest during follow-up was 1.1 ± 1.1% (mean ± SEM) in control subjects, 3.1 ± 1.3% (p = NS, compared with control subjects) in patients with IDDM, and 7.2 ± 1.4% (p <0.01) in patients with NIDDM. At follow-up examination, abnormally low LVEF at rest (<50%) was found in 7% of control subjects, 13% of patients with IDDM (p = NS), and in 31% of patients with NIDDM (p <0.05). Compared with control subjects, the prevalence of an abnormal LVEF response to exercise (an increase by <5%, or a decrease) was higher in diabetic groups at both examinations. This prevalence increased in control subjects from 10% at baseline to 26% at follow-up examination. In patients with IDDM, the respective increase was from 43% to 52% (p = NS, compared With control subjects), and in patients with NIDDM from 53% to 73% (p = NS). Duration and metabolic control of diabetes, presence of diabetic complications, and LVEF at rest or during exercise at baseline did not differ in either diabetic group between the patients who had normal or abnormal LVEF at rest or in response to exercise at follow-up examination. No study subject experienced clinical heart failure during follow-up, but 7% of control subjects, 37% of patients (p <0.001) with IDDM, and 34% of patients (p <0.01) with NIDDM had coronary artery disease at follow-up examination. In conclusion, LVEF at rest deteriorated significantly during 4-year follow-up in patients with NIDDM but not in patients with IDDM. A high prevalence of subclinical LV systolic dysfunction became evident both in patients with IDDM and patients with NIDDM as an abnormal LVEF response to exercise both at baseline and follow-up examinations.     

Cross-section study of pulmonary function in patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus

In this study, we attempted to establish the prevalence and nature of pulmonary dysfunction in a cross section of a diabetic population and the relationship of pulmonary dysfunction to diabetic factors and complications. Forty insulin-dependent diabetic patients, 15 to 60 yr of age, and 40 healthy reference subjects, matched for age, sex, and race, were studied. All subjects were lifelong nonsmokers and had no clinical evidence of past or present respiratory disease. Lung function was assessed from the flow-volume curve, single-breath nitrogen washout, static lung elastic recoil, and pulmonary diffusing capacity (DLCO/VA) and its components: membrane diffusing capacity (Dm/VA) and pulmonary capillary blood volume (Qc/VA). The diabetic patients had an increased value for Kst(L) and in Kst(L), the exponential shape constant of the pressure-volume curve compared with that of the reference subjects (Kst(L), 0.184 +/- 0.011 versus 0.135 +/- 0.005; p less than 0.005, mean +/- SEM). The DL/VA was lower in the diabetic subjects (4.62 = 0.12 versus 5.31 +/- 0.10 ml/min/mm Hg/L; p less than 0.001), and this was due to a lower Qc/VA (9.45 +/- 0.43 versus 11.75 +/- 0.35 ml/min; p less than 0.001). The Kst(L) and Qc/VA were correlated with the duration of diabetes. The In Kst(L) was negatively correlated with both DL/VA (r = -0.32, p less than 0.05) and Qc/VA (r = -0.36, p less than 0.05). There was no association between abnormal pulmonary function and the presence of other diabetic complications. It is concluded that there are mild, duration-related abnormalities of lung elastic recoil and pulmonary diffusing capacity and a reduction in pulmonary capillary blood volume in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.