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The link between tuberculosis (TB)and diabetes, two critical challenges to global health, has long been established. TB and diabetes, both separately and combined, significantly affect individuals, communities, and healthcare systems worldwide. Diabetes continually weakens the immune system, leading to poor health and a high risk of death among patients with, said experts on Tuesday. (Photo Source: Canva)
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Number of cases: India reported an estimated 3.15 lakh TB-related deaths in 2024. accounting for 29 per cent of the deaths globally. The burden of diabetes is also consistently increasing in the country, with over 100 million people currently living with the disease. (Photo Source: Canva)
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How they worsen each other’s effects: Diabetes compromises the immune system, heightening the risk of tuberculosis (TB). For individuals already afflicted with TB, diabetes can further injure their immune response, leading to uncontrolled blood sugar. The fluctuation in blood sugar can further result in treatment failure that can prove to be fatal. (Photo Source: Canva)
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New study: Latest research suggests with TB and diabetes are four times more likely to experience a relapse after completing treatment, and five times more likely to die compared to those without diabetes. (Photo Source: Canva)
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Scope for improvement in treatment : The authors behind the study published in the journal PLOS One highlighted the need to improve documentation of monitoring glycemic status among people with TB and diabetes, especially those notified by the national TB programme, to be able to better monitor treatments. (Photo Source: Canva)
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The study also finds that diabetes patients are much more likely to acquire TB than an individual who does not suffer from diabetes. They found this correlation to be strongest with patients suffering from type 1 diabetes. As per the study, these patients also experience high relapse rates after antitubercular drugs and high mortality in case of delayed diagnosis. (Photo Source: Canva)
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