Medical expert of the article
New publications
Type II diabetes triggers the development of tuberculosis
Last reviewed: 02.07.2025
All iLive content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible.
We have strict sourcing guidelines and only link to reputable media sites, academic research institutions and, whenever possible, medically peer reviewed studies. Note that the numbers in parentheses ([1], [2], etc.) are clickable links to these studies.
If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please select it and press Ctrl + Enter.
Type 2 diabetes is the most common disease in the world and may, as recent studies have shown, influence the incidence of tuberculosis. Scientists believe that the spread of diabetes in developing countries directly affects the attempts to eliminate tuberculosis.
When a person has diabetes, they are at risk of developing active tuberculosis, as well as activating the latent form of this disease. In addition, taking medications for various diseases can reduce the therapeutic effect, as well as increase the likelihood of side effects.
As statistics show, about 15% of the adult population suffers from tuberculosis diabetes, and in recent years, the diagnosis of tuberculosis associated with diabetes has increased by 5% and now more than a million such cases of dual disease are detected per year. For example, in India, the largest number of patients with dual diagnosis is recorded. WHO predicts that by 2020 the number of patients with both tuberculosis and diabetes will increase by 55%, especially countries with initially high levels of tuberculosis are susceptible to dual diseases.
But scientists continue their work, and recently in Melbourne a group of specialists made a discovery that could help cope with autoimmune diseases, in particular diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes is a disease in which the body's own immune system begins to attack the cells that produce insulin in the pancreas, causing the body to lose control of sugar levels.
Experts spent six years observing the pancreatic cells of one volunteer, who eventually died of type I diabetes. For the first time in the history of science, experts managed to isolate the cells and observe their interaction with immune cells that had malfunctioned. Scientists were able to make pancreatic cells recognize insulin where the immune response occurs. By slightly adjusting the site of action, scientists came to the conclusion that it is possible to slow down or delay the pathological process. Now, scientists are planning to conduct clinical trials.
The epidemic of type II diabetes in the modern world, according to experts, is associated with high levels of stress. Scientists have conducted research and found that a person who constantly experiences high pressure at work is 45% more likely to develop type II diabetes, which threatens problems with vision, heart, blood vessels, etc. in the future.
In one of the Munich institutes, a group of researchers analyzed the health of more than five thousand people from 29 to 66 years old. All volunteers worked full time. The experiment lasted 12 years, during which 300 people were diagnosed with diabetes, while none of them had serious health problems. Scientists came to the conclusion that an unfavorable atmosphere at work plays a significant role in the development of the disease. The scientists named the worst type of work when a person is required to do the maximum with minimal control over the work process.
As scientists have noted, every fifth employee experiences severe stress at work, and a long-term elevated level of stress hormones in the body leads to glucose imbalance. In addition, high blood pressure disrupts blood flow and worsens the functioning of some organs.
To prevent diabetes, experts recommend leading a healthy lifestyle, eating a balanced diet, and exercising.
[ 1 ], [ 2 ], [ 3 ], [ 4 ], [ 5 ], [ 6 ], [ 7 ], [ 8 ], [ 9 ], [ 10 ], [ 11 ], [ 12 ], [ 13 ]