Diabetes is making an increasingly important contribution to the TB epidemic and a 52% increase in diabetes prevalence recorded over the last 3 years in the 22 highest TB burden countries is thought to be responsible for a rise in diabetes-associated TB cases from 10% in 2010 to 15% in 2013,” says the Lancet study to be published in the medical journal this week. Read more here
Diabetes has long been known to be a risk factor for active tuberculosis and reactivation of latent tuberculosis. It is also associated with worse tuberculosis treatment outcomes. Additionally, tuberculosis infection in itself can worsen glycaemic control. Drug—drug interactions can further complicate the picture, leading to a reduction in the effectiveness of both tuberculosis and diabetes treatments, and potential worsening of drug side-effects. Read more in this issue of Lancet http://www.thelancet.com/journals/landia/article/PIIS2213-8587(14)70192-5/fulltext
