Diabetes and Lung Health: A Silent Connection

Diabetes, a chronic condition primarily associated with blood sugar irregularities, has far-reaching effects on various organs, including the lungs. In a recent conversation with HT Lifestyle, Dr. Shehla Shaikh, Consultant Endocrinologist at Saifee Hospital, Mumbai, shed light on how diabetes impacts respiratory health, often in ways that remain unnoticed until complications arise.

Diabetes Shrinks Lung Capacity
Dr. Shaikh highlighted that diabetes diminishes key lung functions, such as force vital capacity, lung compliance, and the ability to diffuse carbon monoxide. “This implies that the volume of the lungs reduces, increasing the prevalence of restrictive conditions,” she said. The condition can also weaken respiratory muscles, making breath-holding more tiresome. For individuals with diabetes, fully expanding their lungs can become increasingly difficult, compounding breathing challenges over time.

Diabetes Neuropathy and Pulmonary Function
Diabetic neuropathy, a common complication of diabetes, further exacerbates respiratory challenges. According to Dr. Shaikh, this condition affects the autonomic nervous system, altering the diameter of airways and impairing airflow. “The caliber of the airways becomes larger, making it harder for patients to clear irritants or pathogens from the lungs,” she explained.

Increased Risk of Lung Infections
People with diabetes are particularly vulnerable to pulmonary infections due to a combination of factors. High glucose concentrations in airway surfaces, coupled with defective immune responses, create a fertile ground for infections. “Infections can readily progress to pneumonia because of higher oxidative stress and a failed mucociliary clearance system,” noted Dr. Shaikh.

Tuberculosis: A Serious Threat
Perhaps the most alarming complication of diabetes-related lung issues is the increased susceptibility to tuberculosis (TB). Diabetic patients often have weakened immune systems, making them more prone to TB infections. “Lowered immunological power, combined with secondary complications involving the lungs, leads to a higher risk of tuberculosis,” warned Dr. Shaikh. Long hospital stays and rehospitalizations for such patients can further compound the problem.

Managing the Risk
While diabetes poses significant challenges to lung health, proactive measures can help mitigate risks. Regular monitoring of blood sugar levels, adopting a healthy lifestyle, and practicing deep-breathing exercises can improve lung function and overall well-being.

The connection between diabetes and lung health underscores the importance of a holistic approach to managing the condition. Recognizing and addressing these complications early can significantly enhance the quality of life for those living with diabetes.

Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects blood sugar levels in the body. However, it also affects other organs, including the lungs. In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Dr. Shehla Shaikh, Consultant Endocrinologist, Saifee Hospital, Mumbai, said, “Diabetes is known to reduce lung in force vital capacity, lung compliance, peripheral airway function, and pulmonary diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide. This implies that the volume of the lungs reduces, thus increasing the total number of restrictive conditions. In addition, diabetics subjects’ respiratory muscles become dysfunctional with the breath-holding becoming more tiresome as their lungs cannot open fully,” Also read | Diabetes: How deep breathing can help control blood sugar, improve health

What is diabetes neuropathy?
Dr. Shehla Shaikh explained, “Diabetes neuropathy is a very common complication that normally affects the autonomic nervous system and therefore adjusts the diameter of the airways to reduce the pulmonary functions. It typically makes the caliber of the airways larger, so poor airflow occurs when it becomes harder and harder for the patient to clear lung irritants or pathogens.”Diabetes makes lungs prone to infections
Diabetes can also elevate the risk of pulmonary infections.
Explaining the effects, the endocrinologist added, “With high glucose concentrations in airway surface liquid combined with defective immune responses to infection, the possibility of pulmonary infection increases even further in diabetic subjects. The presence of higher levels of oxidative stress and a failed mucociliary clearance system does not help- infections can readily progress all the way down to pneumonia.”

The risk of tuberculosis:
“Perhaps the biggest reason to be alarmed over the diabetically impaired lung is its susceptibility to tuberculosis. Basically, diabetic patients tend to fall victim to more cases of tuberculosis as the reason behind this factor lies in the fact that lowered immunological power often corresponds to other secondary complications, particularly those involving the lungs. Contributing to that are long admissions which have a potential towards more rehospitalisation due to the prolonged periods,” the doctor added.