Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus as a Risk Factor for Tuberculosis

Abstract

Aim To perform a review to summarize evidence for the impact of diabetes on tuberculosis outcomes. Key Points 1. Diabetes mellitus (DM)-tuberculosis is associated with poor glycemic control in DM patients. 2. DM is the most common risk factor associated with tuberculosis (TB); TB is also the third cause of death due to non-communicable disease (NCD). 3. Screening for DM and if required, subsequent glycemic control may improve the outcome of TB treatment. Diabetes increases the risk of treatment failure and death combined, death and relapse in patients with TB. 4. DM has been associated with increased rates of TB, which may be partially explained by a blunted T cell–mediated immune response. Infection caused by mycobacteria that usually have the glycolipid lipoarabinomannan (LAM), soluble TB factor, and lipopeptid, are recognized by receptors on host cells.