Diabetes and TB: Confluence of Two Epidemic and Its Effect on Clinical Presentation

Tuberculosis (TB) has become a rising concern in low-income countries, particularly in those with Human Immuno Deficiency Virus (HIV) epidemics, and type 2 diabetes has emerged as a significant global chronic health problem, owing to increases in obesity, lifestyle changes, and ageing populations. Diabetes has been identified as a major risk factor for the development of TB. Despite the fact that diabetes imparts a substantially lower risk of TB (3-fold) as compared to HIV (>20-fold), in communities where the number of DM patients is high, the contribution of diabetes to TB might be bigger than HIV.

This review will focus on the link between TB and diabetes, which is now one of the most important topics for physicians since diabetes impacts the clinical presentation and outcome of TB and vice versa.

Though TB is more common in type 1 diabetes, the extent of the problem in type 2 diabetes should be taken into account with equal care, as type 2 diabetes affects a substantially higher number of individuals.

Diabetes patients are more vulnerable to infections because of their impaired immune systems. Increased glucose level leads to a rise in the infection status among TB patients and also leads to a rise in various complications. Extensive and increased screening for both TB and DM over years can help diagnose disease priorly and help in better management. TB, when diagnosed in its early stages, can be easily eradicated.