Abstract
Objective: To describe the susceptibility of individuals with type 2 diabetes (DM2) to develop active pulmonary tuberculosis, as well as to present the diseases, diagnosis and treatment. Bibliographic review: A few years ago, the association between DM2 and opportunistic infections caused by mycobacteria was noted, with emphasis on Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Considering that both pathologies have a high mortality rate, the association between them causes public health fear. In fact, this association leads to worse prognosis when compared only to individuals affected by DM2. Hyperglycemia poses serious health risks to DM2 patients, with reports that DM2 patients have worse outcomes from active tuberculosis due to late diagnosis, poor blood glucose control, and also deficiencies in the immune system caused by hyperglycemia, thus resulting in a more conflicting treatment, leading to a greater number of deaths. Final considerations: This review presents the factors that influence the onset and development of active pulmonary tuberculosis in individuals with DM2, and how the diagnosis is made and the best treatment established to date.