Older people infected with Helicobacter pylori could be at increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes compared with those with no sign of the infection, according to new research.
The study of 782 diabetes-free individuals found that those who were infected with H. pylori were 2.7 times as likely to develop type 2 diabetes in the 10-year follow-up period as those who did not have the bacteria present in their gut.
The findings show H. pylori could be used to predict the development of diabetes and that antibiotics and gastrointestinal treatment have a potential role in preventing the disease, the study authors say.
“If H. pylori plays an aetiological role in the development of type 2 diabetes, preventative measures such as increased hygiene and treatments, such as antibiotics and proton pump...
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