Lung Function in Sudanese Children and Adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus

Background: Diabetes Mellitus Type 1 (DMT1) is a chronic, debilitating and multifactor disease that is emerging as an important health problem in Sudan. The aim of this study was to investigate the lung functions in Sudanese children and adolescents as well as to explore the effects of duration, age, gender and insulin dose on the pulmonary functions.

Methods: This is a hospital-based controled study conducted in the diabetic center of Wad Madani Pediatrics Hospital. A total of 80 males and 80 females with DMT1 and matching healthy controls were included. Spirometry was performed on a microspirometer (compact hand instrument, Switzerland, 2000).

Results: Our data revealed that children with diabetes showed significantly lower mean values of Forced Expiratory Volume in First Second (FEV1), Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) and Peak Expiratory Flow Rate (PEFR), except the ratio FEV1/FVC that has shown a significant increase compared with the healthy controls. Male patients with diabetes demonstrated a greater increase in FEV1, FVC and PEFR than the females, but the ratio FEV1/FVC was increased in both equally and significant correlations between FEV1, FVC, PEFR and age, gender, duration dose of insulin were found in patients with diabetes.

Conclusion: The actual lung function data among Type 1 diabetic children and adolescents showed significantly lower values of FVC, FEV1, and PEFR with increased FEV1 and FVC compared to the predicted lung function data which indicated a restrictive pattern.