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Phrenic nerve latency was studied in 14 male type 1 diabetic patients with impaired diaphragm function and in 14 healthy control subjects. The diabetics showed significantly decreased values regarding inspiratory vital capacity and forced volume in 1 s compared with the control subjects. All other lung function parameters were similar in both groups. Although motor and sensory nerve conduction studies provided evidence for peripheral neuropathy in all patients, phrenic nerve latencies turned out to be normal. These results rule out a neuropathic disorder of the phrenic nerve. Thus, impaired diaphragm function in type 1 diabetic patients is not caused by phrenic neuropathy.

Energy output measurements are an actual problem since the 18th century. Together with the technical development very good solutions for direct calorimetry are available. Vienna Whole Body Calorimeter is a measuring system in which man can live 24 and more hours under defined activity and well known diet. Utilisation of ingested food energy is discussed and unmeasured energy shown during overfeeding. Beside increasing energy content of body mass gaining weight costs 1969 kcal/kg. Comparison of direct and indirect measurement is necessary to define energy need in different catabolic situations.