Rediscovering the Association Between Tuberculosis and Diabetes Mellitus: A Perspective

ObjectiveTo provide an overview, understanding and future prediction of the prevalent concomitant diabetes mellitus and tuberculosis in Saudi Arabia. The literature between 1990 to 2007 was reviewed and combined with personal views which are supported by scientific evidences.ResultsDiabetes mellitus is a risk factor to develop active tuberculosis with odd ratio (4.7; 95%) confidence interval (2.7–8.1). The odd ratio of patients with active tuberculosis who has type 2 diabetes mellitus ranges from 1.3–7.8 folds. Patients with tuberculosis who have diabetes mellitus present a higher bacillary load in sputum, more frequently positive culture at tow month after anti-tuberculous treatment and high rates of multi-drug resistant mycobacterium. Pulmonary tuberculosis in diabetes mellitus present with atypical radiographic features. Diabetes mellitus may adversely affect the outcome of tuberculosis treatment.Conclusion and RecommendationsThere is a need to alert all physicians about the potential impact of diabetes mellitus on the control of tuberculosis and its treatment. It is important to check fasting blood sugar in new patients with tuberculosis and to screen all patients with diabetes mellitus for latent mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. Patients with combined diabetes mellitus and tuberculosis require close monitoring for the control of both diseases.