Evaluation of Pulmonary Functions in Children with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus: A Case-Control Study

Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is one of the most prevalent chronic diseases in children and adolescents with the risk of development and progression of chronic complications. This study evaluates the pulmonary functions with spirometry in children with T1DM in relation with glycemic control. Ninety-six children with T1DM were matched with 102 healthy controls. All the spirometry parameters including FVC, FEV1, FEV1/FVC, PEFR, and MMFR were significantly reduced (p = < 0.001) in T1DM patients when compared with the controls. Compared to the children with fair glycemic control, the children with poor glycemic control were seen to have a significant decrease in FEV1 (p = 0.001) and FVC (p = 0.001) with no significant change in FEV1/FVC ratio (p = 0.9), PEFR (p = 0.4) and MMFR (p = 0.1). Restrictive lung pattern was the most common pulmonary dysfunction in children with T1DM and it worsened with poor glycemic control. This necessitates the need for adequate glycemic control and periodic lung function assessment.