A Hepatitis Diabetes Connection

Researchers examining the possibility of a link between HIV infection and the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes instead found that another common coinfection might be behind the high rates of diabetes among HIVers: hepatitis C. An analysis of more than 6,400 patients at Veterans Affairs hospitals has shown that HIV-HCV coinfection was a strong predictor of increased diabetes risk. Hepatitis or HIV infections alone were not. Other factors associated with increased diabetes risks included being male, being nonwhite, having a high body mass index, and using nucleoside analog or nonnuke medications.