Glycosylated Hemoglobin Level and its Correlation with Pulmonary Function Test in Type II Diabetics

The risk of development and progression of chronic complications of diabetes is closely related to the degree of glycemic control as measured by glycosylated hemoglobin level. Glycosylation of tissue proteins occur when blood glucose level remain elevated for a prolonged duration. Due to this, there occur irreversible changes in the chemical structure of tissue proteins. Connective tissues in skin, muscles, respiratory system, vascular bed, kidney, peripheral nervous system, etc. are the major targets for glycosylation. Diabetic patients show reduced pulmonary function tests. Present study was undertaken to find out the correlation between glycosylated hemoglobin and pulmonary function test in type II diabetics. 42 Type II diabetics and 40 normal subjects were selected for the study. Anthropometric parameters, blood investigations and P.F.T. was performed on all subjects. Fasting and Post Meal blood glucose levels as well as HbA1c % were significantly higher in Type II diabetics as compared to controls. All P.F.T. parameters excepting FEV1 % were significantly reduced in Type II diabetics. A significant correlation was found between HbA1c % and various P.F.T parameters like FVC, FEV1, FEF25 – 75%, FEF0.2 – 1.2L, PEFR and MVV. Also a negative correlation was found between HbA1c % and all P.F.T parameters except FEF25 – 75 %, and MVV. Decreased values of P.F.T parameters in Type II diabetics can be attributed to increased glycosylation of connective tissues and other proteins that leads to decrease in elasticity, flexibility, recoil, etc. of connective tissues producing stiff tissue and ultimately leading to a stiff lung i.e. restrictive lung pathology.