Dual burden of Tuberculosis (TB) and Diabetes Mellitus (DM) as the major risk factor for wide range of population

Authors: Ajit Kumar and Laxman S. Meena*

DOI: 10.23880/doij-16000229

Volume 5, Issue 3

Abstract

The bidirectional association between tuberculosis (TB) and diabetes mellitus (DM) creates a dual burden of these diseases globally. DM patients have chronic infections more often than those without DM and one of the possible causes is a compromised immune system that can lead to various persistent infections. This correlation creates special attention and thus the detailed study of the human immune system and needs to develop some good strategies for the prevention of diabetes in patients who are exposed to Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB). Both diseases are negatively affecting each other as patients taking diabetic drugs may interact with Anti TB drugs which may decrease the efficiency of drugs and on the other side patients having tuberculosis may be prone to hyperglycemic condition. In this mini-review, we tried to describe the bidirectional association of TB and DM’ and possible mechanisms by which a diabetic patient develops active TB and TB patients develop DM. Reducing diabetes could potentially reduce individual-level risks of TB and ultimately prevent increases in TB population incidences.

Keywords: Mycobacterium Tuberculosis, Diabetes mellitus, Tuberculosis, immune system, cytokines, Anti TB drugs

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