Respiratory function in insulin-dependent diabetic patients

ABSTRACT

The study was designed to evaluate the difference in some respiratory functions between insulin-dependent diabetic patients(n=19) and non-diabetic individuals (n = 19). The measured values of FVC; FEV1 and PEFR of the diabetic patients were compared with those of the non-diabetics; as well as the predicted volumes for Nigerians. The diabetic patients showed significantly lower values when compared with the non-diabetics and the predicted volumes. The reduced volumes observed were related to the widespread abnormality of connective tissue known to occur in diabetes. The need for studies on larger population of insulin-dependent patients was highlighted