Type 2 Diabetes Reduces the Lung Capacity and Mars Vital Strength

A recent study which is soon going to be published in the April issue of the journal “Diabetes Care”, published by the “American Diabetes Association”, has come up with alarming news for those suffering from diabetes. According to it, diabetes also affects the lung capacity thus carrying repercussion on the prospective use of inhaled insulin.

The issue also emphasizes the need for more consistent efforts to control lipids to reduce cardiometabolic risk. It also focuses for the first time on the need to test for and treat high levels of apolipoprotein B, a protein which plays an important role in causing heart disease (atherosclerosis). It has been evidently proven that levels of this protein are a better indicator of heart disease risk than total cholesterol or LDL (“bad cholesterol”).

As a part of a larger investigation known as the ‘Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC)’ study, the lung study has affirmed the previous link between diabetes and increase in lung abnormalities. The same researchers in the previous researches have confirmed that downfall in lung capacity could be an indicator towards onset of diabetes. The editorial also credits the downfall in the lung capacity to the diabetes mortality and morbidity.

The study further indicates that there is found more rapid decline in the vital capacity among the people suffering from type 2 diabetes. Vital capacity is a measure of how well the lungs fill with air. Diabetes accelerates the process of fall in vital capacity among the patients which usually happens naturally with age.

The researchers state that it might be due to stiffening of lung tissues due to high blood sugar levels or because the fat tissue in the chest and abdomen may confine the lungs more in people with diabetes. They advised the clinicians to give keen attention to pulmonary function in the type 2 diabetes patients.

Dr. Connie Hsia, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center addresses lung as a crime victim in the editorial of the issue, “a victim who unwittingly abets the perpetrator to hasten the demise of the host.” She raises concerns about the use of inhaled insulin as it may aggravate the pulmonary dysfunction. Many of the manufacturing companies have already withdrawn their products from the market.

Dr. Fred Brancati, one of the lead researchers advises the doctors and patients to remain aware of the ongoing research about diabetes and the lung as there is evidently a stronger relation between the two.

A paper presented by the ADA-American College of Cardiology (ACC) puts stress on getting ApoB also tested among those who displayed symptoms of cardiometabolic risk such as obesity, hypertension, insulin resistance, or carrying a family history of heart diseases. ApoB is a measure of the number of LDL particles in the blood which bring stiffening in the arteries.  The experts also agree that along with LDL, which is an important risk factor, ApoB should also be tested. It puts stress on investigating all the risk factors for the heart disease and also on the factors, which determines our lifestyle so that ‘type 2 diabetes’ and consequentially the heart disease could be effectively controlled.