31 August 2011 - Geneva - WHO and the International Union Against TB and Lung Disease (The Union) have developed a Collaborative Framework for Care and Control of Tuberculosis and Diabetes, which presents recommendations based on evidence from three systematic reviews and a series of expert consultations. It outlines essential steps for coordinated action in three areas:
The framework comes at a critical time, since diabetes prevalence is increasing worldwide, and people with diabetes have a 2-3 times higher risk of TB than people without diabetes. In addition diabetes can worsen the clinical course of TB, and TB can worsen glucose control in people with diabetes.
Diabetes is rising precipitously in low- and middle-income countries undergoing rapid economic, social and lifestyle changes. It is also gaining ground in the low-income countries where TB has always thrived. This is a major concern since the increase in diabetes cases could jeopardize progress made in the global fight against TB over the last decade. WHO and The Union are therefore stressing that prevention and care of diabetes should be a priority for all stakeholders working on TB control as well as those involved in care and control of non-communicable diseases.