Are people with diabetes more likely to have a respiratory disease?

This study investigated the association of diabetes with respiratory diseases (RDs, breathing problems). It was determined that people with diabetes, especially type 1 diabetes (T1D), were more likely to have an RD.

Both T1D and type 2 diabetes (T2D) are associated with changes in the lungs that might make a person more likely to develop an RD. RDs include chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma. COPD is an umbrella term that includes chronic bronchitis (CB) and emphysema. 

Very little information is available on the risks of developing RDs in people with diabetes.

This study examined 781 adults with T1D, 4,277 with T2D, and 48,088 without diabetes. They were asked if they had any kind of RD, and what type of RD that they had.

26% of those with T1D, 21% of those with T2D, and 13% of those without diabetes had an RD. Those with T1D were 62% more likely to have any RD than those without diabetes. Those with T2D were 26% more likely to have a RD. High CRP (a blood test that measures inflammation), weight, and smoking increased the risk of having an RD. Women were less likely to have an RD. Asthma was the most common RD, followed by CB, then COPD, then emphysema.

Asthma was 51% more likely to occur in those with T1D, and 38% more likely to occur in those with T2D, than in those without diabetes. CB was 96% more likely to occur in those with T1D, and 35% more likely to occur in those with T2D, than in those without diabetes. COPD was 89% more likely to occur in those with T1D, and 45% more likely to occur in those with T2D, than in those without diabetes. Emphysema was slightly more likely to occur in those with T1D, and 31% more likely to occur in those with T2D, than in those without diabetes.

History of smoking was similar in all groups of participants. Smoking accounted for 19% of RDs in people with T1D, 30% of RDs in people with T2D, and 26% of RDs in those without diabetes.

The study concluded that those with diabetes, especially T1D, were more likely to have a RD than those without diabetes.

The participants in this study had all been exposed to water contaminated by a chemical called PFOA. The study did not find an association between PFOA and RDs, but other studies have found PFOA may increase the risk of asthma. Furthermore, over 95% of participants were white. Thus the results of this study may not apply to all people with diabetes. This study did not determine whether a participant developed diabetes first or a RD first. This limited conclusions about the cause of RDs in these individuals.

Discuss the risks of developing a respiratory disease with your physician.