HIV and diabetes

Patients with HIV can now expect an improved life expectancy following the introduction of combined antiretroviral therapy. However, patients with HIV are at risk of developing metabolic complications, including the development of insulin resistance and diabetes, that are associated with specific antiretroviral drugs. HIV services may need to adapt, if they have not already done so, to ensure that patients are screened regularly for diabetes. Once a diagnosis of diabetes is made, routine screening for the complications associated with diabetes should take place and efforts should be made to improve glycemic control. How this is delivered will depend on the number of factors within any given healthcare system (e.g., manpower, teaching of the patients, and nurses and physicians in charge of HIV patients, and the need for a multidisciplinary approach) and the prevalence of diabetes within a locality’s HIV population