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TB Management

TB and Diabetes

The link between tuberculosis and diabetes

Diabetes, which causes immunosuppression, is increasingly being recognized as an independent risk factor for tuberculosis (TB) (1).

The synergistic relationship between tuberculosis (TB) and diabetes mellitus (DM) has long been recognized by clinicians (1). Data suggest that the relationship is causal – primarily emerging through hyperglycemia and its impact on immune defenses (2).

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Choose QFT-Plus for accurate and convenient TB testing

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The World Health Organization (WHO) states that the prevalence of diabetes influences TB incidence and TB mortality. It is associated with a twofold to threefold risk of TB disease, a twofold risk of death during TB treatment and a fourfold risk of TB relapse after treatment completion (6).

The development of TB in diabetes patients can be prevented by actively screening for and treating LTBI (5). QFT-Plus is a blood test for TB infection. It represents a major scientific advance over the 110-year-old TB skin test, giving greater accuracy and reliability in test results.

Reduce the risk of active TB among diabetics

QFT-Plus is the modern alternative to the tuberculin skin test.

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References:

1. Yorke, E., Atiase, Y., Akpalu, J., Sarfo-Kantanka, O., Boima, V., & Dey, I. D. (2017). The Bidirectional Relationship between Tuberculosis and Diabetes Tuberc Res Treat. 2017, 1702578.
2. Kapur, A., Harries, A.D. (2013) Cohort monitoring - as a tool to improve diabetes care services. Diabetes Res. Clin. Pract. 102, 260.
3. International Diabetes Federation. IDF Diabetes Atlas. https://diabetesatlas.org/ (accessed February 2, 2022)
4. World Health Organization. (2021) Global tuberculosis report 2021. https://www.who.int/teams/global-tuberculosis-programme/tb-reports/global-tuberculosis-report-2021
5. van Crevel, R., & Critchley, J. A. (2021). The Interaction of Diabetes and Tuberculosis: Translating Research to Policy and Practice. Trop Med Infect Dis. 6, 8.
6. World Health Organization. TB & Diabetes. https://www.who.int/publications/digital/global-tuberculosis-report-2021/featured-topics/tb-diabetes (accessed February 2, 2022)

QFT -Plus is an in vitro diagnostic aid for detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. QFT-Plus is an indirect test for M. tuberculosis infection (including disease) and is intended for use in conjunction with risk assessment, radiography, and other medical and diagnostic evaluations. QFT-Plus Package Inserts, available in multiple languages, as well as up-to-date licensing information and product-specific disclaimers can be found at www.QuantiFERON.com.