Subclinical pulmonary dysfunction: an unrecognized diabetes complication?

The diabetic patient is susceptible to a series of chronic complications and at risk of premature death. The micro- and macrovascular complications of diabetes are very well known. Despite the scarce information on the implications of diabetes for pulmonary function, supporting evidence suggests that the respiratory system is also affected by diabetes. Both collagen and microvascular abnormalities have been proposed as the underlying defects rendering diabetic patients susceptible to respiratory dysfunction. The findings in the few clinical studies that have addressed this question to date are controversial. In this article we review the literature published on this subject.