Ventilatory pulmonary function tests in type 1 diabetes mellitus.

OBJECTIVE: To study the ventilatory pulmonary function tests (VPFT) in type one diabetes mellitus and to correlate it with duration, meticulous metabolic control and various complications of diabetes. METHODOLOGY: Spirometric evaluation of 50 young (15-30 years of age) type one diabetes mellitus patients was done under the case control longitudinal study. After recording baseline parameters patients were subjected to PFT. OBSERVATIONS: Degree of derangement in VPFTs was directly related to duration and metabolic control of diabetes. VPFT parameters such as FVC, FEV1, PEFR, MEF 75% and MEF 25% showed significant reduction (p = 0.009, = 0.001, = 0.001, = 0.05 respectively). Similarly patients with HbA1c > 10% showed significant reduction in FVC, FEV1, PEFR and MEF 75% (p = 0.001 for each). Diabetic patients with complications particularly peripheral neuropathy and nephropathy had significant reduction in FVC, FEV1 and PEFR (p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Spirometric evaluation in type one diabetes mellitus showed varying derangements in the different parameters of VPFTs, suggestive of dominantly restrictive with some obstructive pattern as indicated by significant decline in FVC, PEFR and MEF 75%.