Diabetes mellitus in black and coloured tuberculosis patients

Four hundred and thirty-six Black and Coloured patients with tuberculosis were examined for diabetes mellitus, which was found in 2,1%. In this series 29% of diabetics with tuberculosis had lower lung field involvement only, while the prevalence of isolated lower lung field tuberculosis among the non-diabetics was only 4,5%. It was therefore concluded that diabetes mellitus should be looked for in patients with isolated lower lung field tuberculosis.