Abstract:Objective To discuss the diagnostic value of M-mode ultrasonography in evaluating diaphragmatic motion abnormalities in the patients of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods Sixty-seven patients of T2DM were enrolled and divided into group A (the course > 10 years, 32 cases) and group B (the course ≤ 10 years, 35 cases), and group C was normal control group (36 cases). M-mode ultrasonography was used to examine the diaphragmatic motion range of each group in quiet breathing, voluntary sniffing and deep breathing. The parameters of pulmonary function were obtained which included FEV1, FEV1 (% of predicted), FVC, FVC (% of predicted), FEV1/FVC (%) and VC. The correlations between the diaphragmatic motion range and the parameters of pulmonary function were analyzed. Results There were no significant differences in the diaphragmatic motion degree in quiet breathing among the groups A, B and C (P > 0.05). The diaphragmatic motion of the group A was smaller than that of the group B which was in turn smaller than that of the group C (P < 0.05) in volunntary sniffing and deep breathing. And so was it with group B and C (P < 0.05). The FEV1 of the group A was smaller than that of the groups B and C (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the FEV1 between the groups B and C (P > 0.05). There were no significant differences in the FEV1 (% of predicted), FVC, FVC (% of predicted), FEV1/FVC (%) or VC among the groups A, B and C (P > 0.05). The diaphragmatic motion range in deep breathing was positively correlated with the FEV1, FVC and VC (P < 0.05). Conclusions The diaphragmatic motion can be measured by M-mode ultrasonography directly, conveniently and noninvasively, which provides the objective diagnostic evidence for diaphragmatic motion abnormalities in the patients with T2DM.