The Double Burden of Infectious Diseases and Diabetes—A Bidirectional Relationship

Abstract

There is growing evidence for an etiological interaction between infectious diseases and diabetes, as well as for bidirectional influence of clinical presentation, spread, and outcomes. Some HIV treatments increase diabetes risk, and some infectious diseases may determine unique phenotypes of diabetes. Individuals who have type 2 diabetes have increased risk for tuberculosis and viral hepatitis and have poorer treatment outcomes. Joint noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and infectious diseases clinics are the ideal method of tackling the double burden of these diseases in developing countries.