Glucose intolerance in pulmonary tuberculosis

The frequency of glucose intolerance was studied in 106 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis attending Nazimabad Chest Clinic. Diagnosis was based on X-ray and a positive sputum smear. An oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was performed and evaluated according to the WHO criteria. Glucose intolerance was detected in 52 (49%) patients, 31 Impaired Glucose Tolerance (IGT), 21 Diabetes Mellitus (DM). After adequate antitubercular therapy and sputum conversion, the OGTT was repeated in 23 cases. Of these 13 (56.5%) patients had a normal glucose tolerance indicating that glucose intolerance observed during active pulmonary tuberculosis improves or normalizes after adequate therapy.