November 14 marks World Diabetes Day and this year’s theme is “access to diabetes education”, which underpins the larger multi-year theme of “access to care”. The theme highlights the importance of empowering individuals and communities with the right information to help improve the lives of close to half a billion people living with diabetes worldwide.
People with diabetes have a higher risk of developing tuberculosis (TB), and of poor TB treatment outcomes. Access to education on diabetes will therefore help increase awareness and improve the quality of life for people and families affected by diabetes and TB.
Diabetes is among five key drivers of the global TB epidemic, and the World Health Organization’s latest Global TB Report estimates that diabetes contributed to as much as half a million people falling ill with TB in 2021. Furthermore, TB is associated with glucose intolerance and hyperglycaemia. According to estimates by the International Diabetes Federation, the prevalence of diabetes will almost double in high TB burden countries between 2019 and 2045, with implications for the TB epidemic and response in these settings, and globally.
To improve integrated care for people with TB and comorbidities, including diabetes, WHO recently released the Framework for Collaborative Action on TB and comorbidities. The framework includes actions to improve collaboration across health programs and across sectors for delivering people-centered services.