Incidence Of Diabetes Among Pulmonary Tuberculosis Patients At The Uzuakoli Tuberculosis And Leprosy Referral Hospital, Abia State

ABSTRACT

The incidence of diabetes among tuberculosis (TB) suspects was assessed at the Uzuakoli Tuberculosis and Leprosy Referral Hospital, Abia State between August and October, 2012. The blood glucose levels of fifty TB suspects were measured by colorimetric method using the Randox Glucose Kit. The blood glucose levels of the TB suspects ranged from 3.35 to 1 1 .08mmo1/L. Twenty-three (46%) of the patients were males while twenty-seven (54%) were females. Ten (20%) of them were sputum smear positive for Acid-Fast Bacilli (AFB). Forty-three (36%) of the patients had blood glucose levels within the normal range and forty (80%) of them were sputum smear negative. There were seven (14%) diabetics. Out of the ten patients that tested smear positive for AFB, only one had hyperglycaemia (diabetes) representing 2% of the study population. Although the number of TB suspects examined in this study was small, it can be speculated that the co-incidence of diabetes with tuberculosis among Nigerians is low.