Chennai: In a state where the burden of diabetes (10.4 per cent) and Tuberculosis (80,543 of India’s 2.2 million) is very high, the need to look into their link is essential, doctors said. This was the main focus of discussion at an oration ceremony organised by M.V. Hospital for Diabetes in the city on Sunday.
“People with a weak immune system, as a result of chronic diseases such as diabetes are at a higher risk of progressing from latent to active TB,” said Dr Khaparde. “Diabetics have three times a higher risk of TB compared to non-diabetics,” he added.
Recent reports showed that 10 per cent of TB cases globally are linked to diabetes. Expressing a word of caution, Dr Nihal Thomas, senior diabetologist, CMC, Vellore, said, “It is essential for people to control their diabetes as poorly controlled diabetes can easily result in the development of TB.”
With around 472 million people between the ages 20 and 79 having suffered from diabetes in 2015, the absolute number of diabetics globally was said to have increased seven times in the past 20 years.
“Though primary TB cases have reduced, a significant rise in the Multi Drug Resistance (MDR) TB cases was seen in 2015,” said Dr Ganga Mallan, IMA Physician of GFATM, (Global Fund to Fight against AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria).
“The problem of TB is huge, a reason why India has a large number of centres dedicated to its research,” said Dr Mohan Natrajan, Head of the clinic department, National Institute for Research in Tuberculosis, Chennai. If TB drugs are given properly, covering a wide range, that in itself would help bring down the numbers, he added.
Stressing on the need for private practioners to cooperate in the Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP), State TB Officer (STO) Dr Lakshmi Murali said, “It is essential to for everyone to unite to end TB.”
“Whether an individual has diabetes or not, if his body shows signs of weight loss or other TB symptoms, he needs to be checked for the disease, be it in a government hospital or private,” added Dr Thomas.
The 31st edition of the Prof M. Vishwanathan gold medal oration award was conferred on Dr Sunil D. Khaparde, deputy director general, head, Central TB Division, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, and the lifetime achievement award was conferred on Dr S. Geethalakshmi, Vice-Chancellor, Dr M.G.R. Medical University.
