The co-management of TB and diabetes: challenges and opportunities in the developing world

Timothy Sullivan and Yanis Ben Amor
July 28, 2012, 10:05 p.m.

Diabetes and TB represent a critical intersection between communicable and non-communicable diseases.

Summary Points

The evidence for a link between tuberculosis (TB) and diabetes is strong. Patients with diabetes are at increased risk of developing active TB, and have higher rates of treatment failure and death, even when placed on appropriate TB treatment.
This link may become even more meaningful in coming years, as the prevalence of diabetes is expected to rise dramatically in the resource-poor areas where TB thrives.
We discuss some of the financial challenges inherent in treating diabetes in patients with TB, as well as some opportunities for cost-saving and collaboration in the co-management of these two diseases.
We also propose strategies for funding and implementing efforts to control TB and diabetes concurrently in the developing world, and highlight areas of much-needed research in this field.

PLoS Medicine