Written By: Bhavyajyoti Chilukoti | Published : October 29, 2014 7:12 PM IST
According to health experts, the number of cases of tuberculosis, a lung disease, might increase in the near future all over the world unless steps are taken to manage diabetes. A chronic clinical condition characterised by increased blood sugar levels in the body, diabetes weakens the immune system, thereby increasing the risk of an individual to develop TB by almost three times. As per the statistical reports of World Health Organization (WHO), more than 1,5 million people worldwide died due to tuberculosis (TB) last year. (Read: Drug resistant tuberculosis causes, types, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment and management )
Not many people are unaware that diabetics are more prone to latent TB infection as compared to others due to a compromised immune system. This sheds light on the fact that epidemic of co-infection might result in the coming years as the number of cases of diabetes are set to increase with growing obesity. This is not the first time that a co-infection will be seen in the world. Earlier in many African countries, the HIV/AIDS pandemic, which attacked the defence mechanism of the people, quadrupled the rate of TB infection.
This has set a fear among health experts as diabetes is one of the leading clinical condition affecting every section of the society and the country. The WHO has classified six of the top 10 countries with high numbers of diabetics by 2035 as high TB burden countries namely China, India, Brazil, Indonesia, Pakistan and Russia. India has the highest number of TB cases in the world, followed by China, which has the highest number of diabetics with India ranking second. (Read: 10 tips to prevent diabetes)
According to the International Diabetes Federation, 382 million people were affected with Diabetes in 2013, which is projected to rise to 592 million by 2035. Most of these cases might be of type 2 diabetes that is closely related to obesity, which in turn is associated with sedentary lifestyle and unhealthy eating habits. Anil Kapur of the World Diabetes Foundation said, 'If we don't act now to head this off, we're going to experience a co-epidemic of TB-diabetes that will impact millions and sap public health systems of precious resources. The key is to prevent this from happening'.
Diabetes affected 382 million people in 2013 and will increase to a projected 592 million by 2035, according to the International Diabetes Federation. Most of the cases will be of Type 2 diabetes, the kind that is linked to obesity and is driven by the adoption of Western diets and more sedentary lifestyles. It is a challenge to tackle an infectious disease like TB on one hand and a chronic, non-communicable disease like diabetes on the other. The strategy should involve screening both type of patients i.e., diabetics for TB and TB for diabetics. (Read: 6 strategies to overcome challenges in TB treatment)
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