1 in four TB patients also has diabetes

New data has revealed that one in four people with tuberculosis also have diabetes in hot spots in India. During the recent Union summit on TB and diabetes in Bali this month, a data presented by the Indian initiative Jagran Pehel revealed that after bi-directional screening of more than 50,000 people for TB and diabetes in 10 districts from the states of Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand between September 2014 and September 2015, one in four people infected with TB were also found to be positive for diabetes.

A total of 51,702 people were screened for TB and diabetes during the period. Of which, 1,448 (2.8 per cent) persons had suffered from TB and 3,023 (5.9 per cent) had diabetes. Among those with TB only 539 (37 per cent) of patients had completed TB treatment, while only 507 (16.7 per cent) diabetes patients were on treatment. Significantly, among TB patients, 382 (26.4 per cent) were also living with diabetes.

During the summit, the Indonesian ministry of health, together with the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease and the World Diabetes Foundation, signed the declaration, uniting more than 100 global health officials and experts behind a campaign to fight the twin scourge of TB and diabetes.

Bi-directional screening is a key component of the declaration, which aims to bring the co-epidemic to the attention of governments across the globe.

“Today we’re committing to take action to stop this double threat,” said Mr José Luis Castro, executive director of the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease.