Diabetic lung, an underrated complication from restrictive functional pattern to pulmonary hypertension

In patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM), respiratory function abnormalities have been reported with regard to lung volumes, pulmonary diffusing capacity, control of ventilation, bronchomotor tone, and neuroadrenergic bronchial innervation. Indeed, the decrease in lung volumes and the impairment of diffusing capacity might have important clinical implications. Furthermore, there is an increasing evidence of a link between DM and pulmonary hypertension (PH) related to an involvement of the pulmonary vascular structures. These findings support the view of the lung as target organ in DM. In this paper, we briefly describe the main derangements of the respiratory system in DM and the inherent mechanisms.