Diabetes Mellitus (DM) represents one of the highest challenges in our century, due to the fact that in the last 20 years the number of patients with DM has doubled, at present affecting hundreds of millions of people worldwide, both in developed countries and in developing ones, as well. One of the most serious consequences of this increase is the onset of type 2 DM in children, adolescents and young people, the main causes being an unhealthy lifestyle: unhealthy food, lack of physical exercise, which, most of the times, lead to obesity. Also, DM is often associated to micro and macrovascular complications, thus determining disabilities and high costs in the healthcare systems, respectively. DM is one of the main causes of death all over the world, a reason for which there are required prevention programs worldwide.

Diabetes Mellitus (DM) and Tuberculosis (TB) are two chronic diseases which have a major impact on the population health in developing countries. DM is a chronic, noncommunicable disease, characterized by hyperglycemia, caused by insulin-resistance, inadequate insulin secretion or both. TB is a disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, an airborne bacteria. DM implies a three times greater risk of developing TB and their association can be considered one of the most important challenges regarding TB control. TB can cause a temporary impaired glucose tolerance, which is a risk factor for DM development. The possibility of relapse or death of a patient with TB is significantly higher when the patient also has DM. The DM-TB association represents an important threat to the population health and requires the implementation of adequate programs in order to reduce the prevalence and incidence of the two diseases.