When nerves fail: A cause of respiratory failure in a diabetic patient

Respiratory failure secondary to bilateral diabetic phrenic neuropathy is an uncommon clinical scenario. It is challenging to treat and often results in the need for long-term respiratory support.

We report a patient with long standing diabetes mellitus (DM) who presented with respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation. He was subsequently found to have reduced phrenic nerve and diaphragm compound action potential amplitude bilaterally on nerve conduction studies.

Diabetic patients with unexplained shortness of breath should raise suspicion for diaphragmatic paresis from phrenic neuropathy.