Doctors have identified another complication of type 2 diabetes that can affect the respiratory system.
According to experts, it was previously unknown that type 2 diabetes negatively affects the lungs, but now it has been proven. Prior to this, it was believed that only blood vessels, kidneys, eyes, immunity, as well as the liver and legs were at risk.
Why is diabetes dangerous for the respiratory organs? The answer is simple – sugar. Scientists have found that an increase in average blood sugar from 4 mmol/L to 12 mmol/L can cause a 20% decrease in lung capacity and function.
Diabetes UK experts believe that this is a serious problem, the fight against which may take a long time. Such conclusions were not made from scratch, but after studying the data of almost 500 thousand people.
Using spirometry tests to diagnose diseases, they clearly found that high blood sugar levels do affect lung health.
“We hope that our discovery that impaired lung function is a complication of type 2 diabetes will be the first step in raising physician awareness and leading to earlier diagnosis and treatment of lung disease in these patients,” said University of Surrey professor, lead researcher. Inga Prokopenko.
Elizabeth Robertson, director of research at Diabetes UK, agreed with her words, noting that it is very important that doctors understand how dangerous sugar can be for a person’s lungs. Perhaps such information will save the lives of many patients, writes “AiF” .
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