18 International Journal of Scientific Study | February 2016 | Vol 3 | Issue 11 Pulmonary Function in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Correlation with Body Mass Index and Glycemic Control Preetam R Acharya 1 , Monalisa D’Souza 2 , R Anand 3 , Shashidhar M Kotian 4 1 Associate Professor, Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal University, Manipal, Karnataka, India, 2 Intern, Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal University, Manipal, Karnataka, India, 3 Professor, Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal University, Manipal, Karnataka, India, 4 Selection Grade Lecturer, Department of Community Medicine, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal University, Manipal, Karnataka, India that about 347 million people worldwide have diabetes with a global average prevalence of approximately 10%. 1 India is witnessing an epidemic of DM and is referred to as the diabetes capital of the world. It is estimated that by 2025, there will be nearly 70 million people with diabetes in India, meaning, every 5 th diabetic in the world would be an Indian. 2 DM is known to cause widespread metabolic, hormonal and microvascular abnormalities as well as disturbances in the functioning of many organ systems such as the kidneys, retinae, nerves, and the cardiovascular system. 3 INTRODUCTION Diabetes mellitus (DM) is an important universal public health problem. The World Health Organization estimates Original Article Abstract Introduction: The lung with its large surface area and extensive vasculature is postulated to be one of the “target organs” for damage in diabetes mellitus (DM). However, changes in lung function occurring in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (Type 2 DM) have not been well-characterized in previous studies. Purpose: To study the pulmonary function abnormalities in patients with Type 2 DM and to find correlations with duration, body mass index, glycemic control, and nephropathy. Materials and Methods: This prospective study was conducted among Type 2 DM patients attending the diabetic clinic of a medical college hospital. 124 non-smokers with Type 2 DM, not suffering from respiratory allergies and who did not have any acute or chronic pulmonary diseases were included. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated for all patients. Glycemic control was assessed by measuring glycosylated hemoglobin (serum HBA1c). Spirometry and measurement of diffusing capacity by single-breath method (DLCO-SB) was done in all the patients. The presence of diabetic glomerulopathy was determined by checking urine samples for microalbuminuria in a subset of patients. Patients were divided into subgroups based on BMI, HBA1c levels, duration of DM and data analyzed using ANOVA and Student’s unpaired t-test. SPSS version 17.0 was used for statistical analysis. Results: A statistically significant reduction was seen in diffusing capacity with increasing duration of DM (P < 0.05). Statistically insignificant reductions were observed in forced expired volume in 1 s (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), peak expiratory flow rate, (PEFR) forced expiratory flow (FEF 25%-75%) in patients with >20 years of DM in comparison to their counterparts with <10 years of DM; FEV1/FVC was found to be unimpaired in DM. Conclusions: Type 2 DM is associated with a reduction in diffusing capacity with increasing duration of disease. This reduction was not limited only to patients with microalbuminuria. BMI and level of glycemic control did not affect lung functions in diabetic patients. Key words: Diffusing capacity, Pulmonary function, Type 2 diabetes mellitus Access this article online www.ijss-sn.com Month of Submission : 12-2015 Month of Peer Review : 01-2016 Month of Acceptance : 01-2016 Month of Publishing : 02-2016 Corresponding Author: Dr. Preetam R Acharya, Associate Professor, Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal University, Manipal, Karnataka, India. Tel.: 0824-2445858-5218. Phone: +91-9448953430. Fax: (0824) 2428379. E-mail: dokpreet@yahoo.co.in DOI: 10.17354/ijss/2016/49