Source: MicrobeWiki, Professor D. J. Kelly.

(NEW YORK) – Diabetic patients are more prone to develop H. pylori infection and its life threatening complications.

Recently a new study by researchers at NYU Langone Medical Center have found an association between H. pylori infection and elevated hemoglobin A1c levels. The study suggests that H. pylori infection may promote higher rate of type 2 diabetes.

H. pylori may directly or indirectly increase HbA1c levels in adults, particularly those who are obese as H. pylori strains play a vital role in the homeostasis of leptin and ghrelin, the hormones critical to energy homeostasis and metabolism.

H. pylori strains which contain the cag antigen, have been particularly associated with chronic gastric inflammation, which may be related to the development of metabolic syndrome.

The findings of this particular research and all recent data suggests that H. pylori infection may lead to faster progression to insulin resistance and impaired glucose metabolism in adults particularly those with higher BMI levels.

Therefore, H. pylori infection even if asymptomatic should be eradicated to prevent and limit progression of diabetes mellitus.

Further Reading:

  1. Type 2 diabetes mellitus: A risk factor for Helicobacter pylori infection: A hospital based case-control study
  2. Association Between Gastric Helicobacter pylori Colonization and Glycated Hemoglobin Levels