The Asthma-Diabetes Link: Real or Illusory?

Clay Wirestone

May 22, 2011

Asthma and Diabetes

Does asthma boost your risk of developing diabetes and heart disease? A new review of years of medical records suggests that it does. Minnesota's Mayo clinic conducted the study, which looked at heaps of medical records from the late 1960s to the early 1980s. The link was straightforward. People with asthma were more likely to have both diabetes and heart disease than people without the breathing condition.

The researchers were taken aback by the apparent link because it doesn't fit their current understanding of the conditions. Doctors believe that asthmatics have one kind of immune system--prone to allergies--and that heart disease and diabetic patients have another--prone to inflammation issues. "It was surprising because there are two broad (immune profile) categories that they're looking at here," said Dr. Jennifer Appleyard of St. John Hospital and Medical Center in Detroit. Having asthma, therefore, shouldn't have caused the 2,400 people in the study to be any more likely to have those other conditions.

So what happened?

It's possible, of course, that the conditions, and the immune profiles, have more subtle connections than scientists previously thought. But researchers also pointed to the treatment that asthmatics once used heavily--steroids. Those on steroid treatment can gain weight, and excess weight is a risk factor for diabetes and heart disease. More treatments are available today, doctors note, so further research is needed.

"It would warrant a prospective study to find patients with asthma now and follow them to see what happens," said Dr. Linda Dahl, an ear, nose, and throat specialist. "It would be important to assess both the disease and treatment, and how that affects what other illnesses develop."

The research was presented in late March at the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology's annual meeting in San Francisco.

Source: http://www.healthfinder.gov/news/newsstory.aspx?docID=651009 A

Categories: Asthma, Diabetes, Diabetes, Heart Disease, Immune Systems, Overweight

Comments

Posted by Vicky on 22 December 2011

Hi,

I just came across your website whilst looking up a few things about my son, I feel that I need to comment because what you have described almost identically fits the profile of what happened to my son.

My son was born at full term with a typical healthy delivery, and for his first 2 years was completely without illness (other than typical colds). When he reached 2; with no forewarning; he developed Asthma type symptoms, which later went on to be described as 'Brittle Asthma' due to the frequency of exacerbations, and was hospitalised over several weeks. He was treated at the time with cortisteriods (Prednisolone), however suffered a reaction to the steroids. (each administered dose produced difficulty breathing and what were described as hives). Eventually the steroids were replaced with Hydrocortisone, although due to the nature higher than usual doses were given.

Upon later examination, (via chest X-ray) some large shadowing was found on the lower lobe of his lung that was identified to be an advanced chest infection which was treated with antibiotics. My sons condition gradually and completely cleared up over several months, but ironically so did the Asthma type symptoms.
It's our belief that the asthma type symptoms were in fact created by the advanced stages of a chest infection (which alone will cause respiratory distress in infants) coupled with some form of reaction to the Prednisolone cortisteriods; or perhaps some content within them.

Approximately 12 months later; and again with little forewarning; my son was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus, and is now completely Insulin dependent. Type 1 Diabetes does not run in the family on either side that we are aware of, hence the surprise. Additionally, my son has always maintained an ideal weight, until of course the onset of diabetes where he lost some considerable weight.

I'd be more than happy to discuss this matter with you in more detail if you feel it will help with your research.

Thanks

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