The Effects of Diabetes on Risk of Infection / 임상당뇨병

ABSTRACT

A relationship between diabetes and infection has long been accepted clinically. Host-specific factors that are thought to predispose diabetic patients to infection include hyperglycemia-related impairment of the immune response, vascular insufficiency, diabetic peripheral and autonomic neuropathy, and skin and mucosal colonization of pathogens. Some uncommon but life-threatening infections (e.g., malignant otitis media, rhinocerebral mucormycosis, gangrenous cholecystitis) occur almost exclusively in people with diabetes. Previous large population-based observational studies have reported strong associations between higher HbA1c and infection risks for both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. However, the potential of better long-term glycemic control to prevent infection remains controversial due to sparse randomized controlled trials. More high-quality, prospective studies with sufficient control of confounding factors and repeated HbA1c measures are necessary.