North American Journal of Medical Sciences | January 2014 | Volume 6 | Issue 1 | 30 Introduction About 95% of patients with tuberculosis (TB) and 70% of patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) live in the low and middle income countries. [1,2] The epidemic growth of DM has occurred in developing countries where TB is highly endemic. As a result, DM and TB are increasingly present together, and this calls for renewed interest in this topic. [3] India is facing the dual problem of being the highest TB-burden country having a large number of people with diabetes posing a serious challenge for the health system. [4,5] Systematic reviews have shown scientific evidence of the linkages between the two diseases. Diabetes and tuberculosis may complicate each other at many levels. Among those with active TB, diabetes may adversely affect TB treatment outcomes by delaying the time for microbiological response, reducing the likelihood of favorable outcome and increasing the risk of relapse, death and drug resistance. [6,7] The World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Union against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (IUATLD) developed a collaborative framework for care and control of diabetes and tuberculosis, which emphasizes the routine implementation of bi-directional screening for the two diseases. It strongly recommends surveillance of diabetes among TB patients in all countries in primary healthcare settings. Screening for diabetes in patients with tuberculosis will not only ensure early case detection but also better management of diabetes. Tuberculosis patients accessing healthcare centers for directly observed treatment, short-course (DOTS) therapy for TB could also avail facilities for management of diabetes at the same time. This would thus reduce the cost incurred by both the patient and the health system and prevent unnecessary duplication of Prevalence of Diabetes Mellitus among Tuberculosis Patients in Urban Puducherry Soundararajan Raghuraman, Kavita Vasudevan P, S. Govindarajan 1 , Palanivel Chinnakali, Krishna Chandra Panigrahi Department of Community Medicine, *Indira Gandhi Medical College and Research Institute, Kathirkamam, 1 State TB Cell, Government Chest Clinic, Puducherry, India Abstract Background: Diabetes and Tuberculosis often present together and complicate each other at many levels. A collaborative framework for care and control of diabetes and tuberculosis developed by World Health Organisation and International Union against Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases emphasizes routine bi-directional screening for the two diseases. Aims: The study was to assess the prevalence of diabetes in tuberculosis patients currently on treatment. Materials and Methods: This facility-based cross-sectional study was undertaken in four randomly selected peripheral health institutions providing directly observed treatment short-course, treatment for tuberculosis patients. All cases of tuberculosis, more than 18 years of age were screened for diabetes. Risk factors like age, sex, family history of diabetes, alcohol, smoking and obesity were assessed. Results The prevalence of diabetes in tuberculosis patients was found to be 29% (known diabetics - 20.7%, new Diabetes cases - 8.3%). Diabetes was significantly associated with older age, family history of diabetes, consumption of alcohol and sputum positivity. Conclusions: Screening patients with Tuberculosis for fasting blood sugar estimation will help in early detection of diabetes Keywords: Diabetes, directly observed treatment, short-course, therapy, prevalence, risk factors, tuberculosis Address for correspondence: Dr. Kavita Vasudevan P, Department of Community Medicine, Indira Gandhi Medical College and Research Institute, Kathirkamam, Puducherry - 605 009, India. E-mail: kavitavasudevan77@gmail.com Access this article online Quick Response Code: Website: www.najms.org DOI: 10.4103/1947-2714.125863 Original Article