Type 2 diabetes may raise risk of severe dengue, warns review

People with Type 2 diabetes face a higher risk of severe, life-threatening dengue complications, according to a review paper slated for publication in the International Journal of Diabetes & Technology, which calls for integrating dengue vaccination into routine diabetes care to protect vulnerable populations in dengue-endemic regions better. The study authors note that persistently high blood sugar impairs immune function and damages blood vessels, which makes people with diabetes more susceptible to severe dengue infection. According to the authors, such patients are more likely to develop an exaggerated inflammatory response, or a “cytokine storm”, which can result in dengue haemorrhagic fever, internal bleeding and, in severe cases, dengue shock syndrome, a potentially fatal condition marked by a sharp fall in blood pressure. DISCLAIMER: This article is based on information from the public domain and/or the experts we spoke to. Always consult your health practitioner before starting any routine.