Tuberculosis and Diabetes

- People with a weak immune system, as a result of chronic diseases such as diabetes, are at a higher risk of progressing from latent to active tuberculosis.
- Diabetes triples a person’s risk of developing TB. About 15% of TB cases globally may be linked to diabetes.
- TB can temporarily cause impaired glucose tolerance which is a risk factor for developing diabetes
- The likelihood that a person with TB will die or relapse is significantly higher if the person also has diabetes.
- A large proportion of people with diabetes as well as TB are not diagnosed, or are diagnosed too late.