Diabetes is the new driver of tuberculosis - report

Oct 29, 2014

A person suffering from diabetes is three times more likely to develop tuberculosis, a new research reveals.

By Carol Natukunda in Barcelona, Spain

A person suffering from diabetes is three times more likely to develop tuberculosis, a new research reveals.


The research says diabetes could be the leading driver of tuberculosis infections and calls for international action against a looming crisis of the two epidemics.

“Diabetes triples the risk that a person will develop tuberculosis,” states the research titled “Looming Co-epidemic of TB-Diabetes: a call to action,’ by the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease and the World Diabetes Foundation.

It was launched on Wednesday during the opening ceremony of the 45th World Conference on Lung health taking place in Barcelona, from October 28th to November 1st.

The study challenges the traditional approach of tackling infectious diseases and non-communicable diseases separately.

Dr Anthony Harries, the Senior Advisors at the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease explained further: “ Every time a patient comes with diabetes, they should be checked for tuberculosis . Tuberculosis is an airborne, infectious disease caused by bacteria. Diabetes is a chronic illness that weakens the immune system, making people with diabetes more susceptible to developing TB.”

Harries further noted that for a long time, attention has been put on HIV/AIDS and TB, but warned that non communicable diseases were also on the increase, considering a change in lifestyle, diet and lack of exercise.

“For years, we had medical evidence that the two diseases were working together as HIV destroyed people’s immune systems, allowing TB to quadruple in many African countries. And for years we had a policy framework for responding. But it took years to mobilise a robust response, and millions of people  were impacted by TB-HIV co-infection, before it became a norm to screen people living with HIV for TB and vice versa. We want to raise an alarm that we don’t watch history repeat itself with TB-Diabetes,” he stated.

Globally, diabetes is projected to skyrocket from 382 million cases in 2013 to 592 million cases by 2035. In Uganda, there about 2 million people suffering from diabetes.

Unless steps are taken to halt the trend, experts believe the consequence will be an increasing number of people who develop tuberculosis as a result of diabetes, potentially reversing the progress made against TB over the last few decades. An estimated 1.5million died of tuberculosis in 2013, according to the World Health Organisation.

Dr Anil Kapur, a member of the board of director of the World Diabetes Foundation said: “India, China to East Africa and the United States –we are seeing significantly higher rates of diabetes among TB patients than what appears in the general population. If we do not act now, we are going to experience a co-epidemic of TB –diabetes that will impact millions and sap public health systems of precious resources.”

On Monday,  while addressing  the National Press Foundation media fellows, experts noted that the cost of screening and treatment was going to be a difficult for the poor people.

“Ideally, TB can be treated and cured. But diabetes is a lifelong chronic disease,” noted Dr. Jane Carter, the president of the International Union against Tuberculosis  and Lung Disease.

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