People living with Type 2 diabetes face a significantly higher risk of developing severe and potentially life-threatening complications from dengue infection, according to a new review by leading diabetes specialists.
The paper also recommends integrating dengue vaccination into routine diabetes care to better protect high-risk patients in dengue-endemic regions.
The review, led by Dr. Jothydev Kesavadev, is scheduled for publication in the International Journal of Diabetes & Technology (IJDT).
Experts Recommend Routine VaccinationThe authors argue that healthcare providers should bridge the current gap in diabetes management by incorporating dengue vaccination into standard treatment protocols.
Integrating dengue vaccination into routine diabetes care has the potential to reduce severe illness and hospitalisation in dengue-endemic regions,” said Dr. Kesavadev.
People living with Type 2 diabetes face a significantly higher risk of developing severe and potentially life-threatening complications from dengue infection, according to a new review by leading diabetes specialists. The paper also recommends integrating dengue vaccination into routine diabetes care to better protect high-risk patients in dengue-endemic regions.
The review, led by Dr. Jothydev Kesavadev, is scheduled for publication in the International Journal of Diabetes & Technology (IJDT). It has been co-authored by several eminent diabetes experts, including Dr. Banshi Saboo, Dr. Shashank R. Joshi, Dr. Anuj Maheshwari, Dr. Sanjay Kalra, Dr. Anoop Misra, Dr. Amit Gupta, Dr. Rakesh Parikh, Dr. Manoj Chawla, Dr. Sunil Gupta, Dr. Anjana Ranjit Mohan, Dr. Sanjay Agarwal, and Dr. Niti Pall, President-Elect of the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) Europe.
High Blood Sugar Increases Dengue Risk
The researchers presented the paper at the 14th JPEF (Jothydev’s Professional Education Forum) Annual Global Diabetes Convention in Kovalam, while Kerala Health Minister Shri K. Muraleedharan released the upcoming IJDT publication.
As per the press release, the review explains that persistently high blood sugar weakens the immune system and damages blood vessels, making people with diabetes more susceptible to severe dengue infection. Once infected, these patients are more likely to develop an excessive inflammatory response, or cytokine storm, which can lead to Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever (DHF) and the potentially fatal Dengue Shock Syndrome (DSS).
Experts Recommend Routine Vaccination
The authors argue that healthcare providers should bridge the current gap in diabetes management by incorporating dengue vaccination into standard treatment protocols.
The review highlights the potential of the TAK-003 vaccine (Qdenga), developed by Takeda. According to the paper, long-term clinical studies show the vaccine reduces dengue-related hospitalisations by 84 to 90 per cent while offering strong protection against severe disease. It is also effective against all four dengue virus serotypes and does not require prior dengue screening. The vaccine is currently approved in 42 countries and is expected to be introduced in India early next year.
Integrated Care Could Improve Outcomes
“People with diabetes represent one of the most vulnerable groups during dengue outbreaks. Integrating dengue vaccination into routine diabetes care has the potential to reduce severe illness and hospitalisation in dengue-endemic regions,” said Dr. Kesavadev.
He added that combining infectious disease prevention with chronic disease management could transform healthcare by protecting millions of people with diabetes from seasonal dengue and significantly improving patient outcomes.
