Diabetes weakens your immunity to such an extent that it makes you vulnerable to developing TB. It remains silent for a long time before it starts to show symptoms, which are similar to diabetes like weight loss, fatigue, loss of sleep among others. So, patients with diabetes aren’t generally tested for TB, says Dr R Natasimhan, Senior Pulmonologist, Apollo Hospital, Chennai
TB bacteria grow faster when blood sugar levels are high and have a higher chance of developing mutations which may make them drug-resistant, say experts