Diabetes may significantly increase susceptibility to infections due to sub-optimal management of glycaemia and other risk factors and associated impaired immune responses and vascular insufficiency. People with diabetes may then experience higher rates of urinary tract infections, pneumonia, skin and soft tissue infections and more severe outcomes from common pathogens. This makes “Diabetes and Infections” a highly meaningful theme for our continuing medical education, given that the early recognition and prevention strategies are well understood and appropriate strategies can be implemented.
Moreover, the rising threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) adds urgency to this topic. Sub-optimal diabetes management can also lead to recurrent infections, fuelling inappropriate or excessive antibiotic prescriptions. People with diabetes thus often require more frequent or prolonged antibiotic use, increasing their risk of harbouring multidrug-resistant organisms. This session of our Journal Club will emphasize optimal diabetes management alongside evidence-based infection control and antimicrobial stewardship as an essential triad of tools for breaking this potential cycle.
Understanding the bidirectional relationship between diabetes and infection can improve clinical outcomes and reduce unnecessary antibiotic use. It also highlights the need for multidisciplinary approaches that include vaccination, preventative foot care, prompt infection management and, where appropriate, judicious antimicrobial use. As AMR escalates into a global crisis, targeting high-risk populations like those with diabetes becomes a strategic priority for public health!
