Infections and diabetes: Risks and mitigation with reference to India.

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology
• Immunology
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• The association between diabetes and infections is well-established.
• The COVID-19 pandemic has renewed focus on this link.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the relationship between diabetes and infection risk.
• To understand the impact of infections on glycemic control.

Main Methods:

• A literature search was performed on PubMed.
• Included English-language articles on diabetes and infection.

Main Results:

• Diabetes impairs immune defenses, increasing infection susceptibility.
• Infections worsen glycemic control in diabetics and can trigger new-onset diabetes.
• COVID-19 increases severe disease risk and poor outcomes in diabetics.

Conclusions:

• Clinicians must recognize heightened infection risk in diabetes.
• Holistic patient management, including glucose monitoring and nutritional support, is vital.
• Effective diabetes management is key to improving infection outcomes.