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Lung function abnormalities in children with type I diabetes
R van Gent1, H J L Brackel, M de Vroede
1Department of Paediatrics, Sint Joseph Hospital, Veldhoven, The Netherlands. k.vanderent@wkz.azu.nl
Insights
Children with type I diabetes show increased airway resistance, a lung function abnormality. This finding is crucial for understanding potential impacts on future treatments like intrabronchial insulin therapy.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Endocrinology
- Pulmonary Medicine
- Diabetology
Background:
- Type I diabetes can affect lung function in adults.
- Intrabronchial insulin therapy is a developing treatment for diabetes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess lung function in children with type I diabetes.
- To identify potential airway obstruction or resistance issues.
Main Methods:
- Twenty-seven children with type I diabetes underwent lung function tests.
- Measurements included airway obstruction, lung volumes, airway resistance, and diffusion capacity.
Main Results:
- Total airway resistance (Raw) was significantly higher in diabetic children compared to controls (P < 0.001).
- Other lung function parameters showed no significant differences.
- No correlation was found between lung function and disease duration, age, or HbA1c levels.
Conclusions:
- Children with type I diabetes exhibit increased airway resistance.
- These lung function abnormalities may impact the efficacy of intrabronchial insulin treatments.
Abstract:
Recent developments in intrabronchial administration of insulin raise lung function in patients with type I diabetes as important issue. Several studies in adults report abnormalities of lung function of these patients. The aim of this study was to investigate lung function in children with type I diabetes. Twenty-seven children with type I diabetes performed measurement of airway obstruction (forced flow-volume curves), lung volumes and airway resistance (bodyplethysmography) and of pulmonary carbon monoxide diffusion capacity Mean age (+/- SD) of the children was 12.8 +/- 5 years. Mean time between the detection of type I diabetes and the lung function tests was 5.5 years with a variation from I to 17 years. The total airway resistance (Raw) was significantly higher compared to the reference values (P < 0.001). The other lung function parameters were not significantly different from reference values (P > 0.05). In this relatively small study no relationship between lung function abnormalities and age, the duration of disease or level of HbA1c was observed. Our data show that increase of airway resistance do occur in children withtype I diabetes. Progressive abnormalities in lung function might interfere with the promising results of treatment with intrabronchial administration of insulin.