People with healthy lungs developing asthma may not be too strange, after all.

Diabetes is a condition that affects and interacts with every piece and particle of the human body. Some of these interactions are minute and not cause for concern, while others are significant and could lead to serious complications or even death.

What Is Asthma?

Asthma is a condition that affects the lungs and surrounding airways. This particular illness varies widely in terms of severity; for some, it is hardly noticeable unless a cold front sweeps through, while for others, it is a life-threatening condition that could flare up at any time.

The exact cause of asthma attacks are not known, but the basic mechanics are well studied. In asthma, your airways narrow, swell and create copious amounts of mucus. Each of these symptoms can cause coughing, wheezing, and an inability to catch your breath. Such fits may last for a matter of seconds every few months, or may be massive episodes that come every single day.

Asthma can also flare in response to environmental factors, including temperature, animal dander, and pollen. Some medical conditions can also impart a tendency toward developing asthma or worsening of an existing asthmatic condition—including diabetes.

Diabetes and Asthma

Diabetes affects and alters your circulatory system, as well as your body’s ability to produce collagen and elastin. All of these come together to create a decrease in overall lung function which can lead to asthma. It has also been linked to other lung conditions, such as pneumonia and fibrosis.

When the connective tissues in your lungs are weakened, the general strength and efficacy of the lungs decrease dramatically. Paired with large blood vessels and the chronic inflammation that often accompanies diabetes, diabetics’ lungs can be severely weakened and susceptible to greater infection and chronic illness.

When to Call Your Doctor

If you’ve noticed sudden tightness in your chest, difficulty breathing, or a persistent cough that has not dissipated after more than ten days, a visit to the doctor is in order. Lung infections can take hold quickly and may be more difficult to heal, so prevention and early detection are both crucial.

The best course of action to keep asthma at bay is to keep your collagen and elastin production working, keep inflammation low, and avoid unnecessary strain on your circulatory system. A healthy diet and regular exercise routine are a starts, with the possible addition of supplementation or adding-in of additional fats and proteins to give your body all of the nutrients you need to keep your tissues supple and healthy.