TB-diabetes co-epidemic looms, experts warn
A report warned Wednesday of a looming tuberculosis-diabetes epidemic as the two diseases intertwine in many countries, driven in part by a rise in unhealthy lifestyles.
Having diabetes triples a person’s risk of contracting TB, which killed about 1.5 million people last year, said the report compiled by the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease and the World Diabetes Foundation.
A growing link has been observed between diabetes — a disease of diet, lifestyle and genes — and TB, a respiratory disease spread by bacteria, it said.
The physiological mechanisms are not fully understood, though.
“Diabetes is fuelling the spread of TB,” said the report released for the 45th World Conference on Lung Health in Barcelona.
“This is largely because diabetes rates are skyrocketing around the world, and having diabetes increases the risk that a person will become sick with TB.”
It warned: “Successfully addressing TB-diabetes therefore requires a coordinated response to both diseases at all levels of the health system.”
According to the report, it was estimated that there were more people in the world living with a combination of TB and diabetes than there were people living with TB and HIV — a well-known duo that has claimed millions of lives.