Diabetes May Damage Lungs Similarly to Smoking

Scientists in the Netherlands have discovered a connection between lung impairment and diabetes, finding that patients with type 2 diabetes are at a high risk of restrictive lung impairment similar to that of smokers. Researchers believe that for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and diabetes, lung function could worsen because of the latter.

The study included 3,182 patients with diabetes and 27,080 control subjects, with researchers examining the pulmonary function literature from 40 studies of diabetic patients. Researchers believe that diabetes may affect the lungs in ways similar to smoking.

Past studies have shown systemic inflammation present in patients with COPD as well as diabetes and other diseases. Though researchers are not sure where systemic inflammation starts, it is knowingly linked to metabolic syndrome and inactivity.

Researchers have been focusing on the role of the inflammation in the body that is associated with COPD, diabetes, heart disease and a variety of other chronic diseases, including obesity, and found that decreased lung function in the diabetic study was similar to that of smokers and included patients without overt lung disease.

The study found an association between diabetes and lung damage despite other factors, including smoking, diabetes duration and blood sugar control. Next, the researchers are interested in investigating the potential clinical implications in those patients with diabetes and pulmonary diagnoses such as COPD and asthma.