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Can Malaria Cause Diabetes?

Posted on Wed, 22 Apr 2015

Question: Does anyone know if Malaria can destroy your pancrease or cause diabetes? I have been a vegetarian from birth and walk and exercise everyday. I just came down with diabetes. It's not in my family, I do not eat a lot of fats or sugars. I eat fruits and vegetables. ???

Answered by Dr. Shehzad Topiwala (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
No

Detailed Answer:
To the best of my knowledge of world medical literature, there is no published evidence linking Malaria to diabetes as one of its causes. However there are two entities that are well described in this scenario. One is called Stress induced hyperglycemia. This refers to elevation in blood sugars in someone who is typically hospitalized for a major surgery or illness. Often the sugars normalize after discharge. This can occur in malaria too. Secondly there is a concept of unmasking of type 2 diabetes. This means that any major stress can cause diabetes to manifest in a person who is prone to it. This too can occur with malaria. I see you do not have a family history of diabetes but that is only one rush factor. So any significantly stressful event like cerebral malaria can 'de compensate' the body's ability to keep sugars in check.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Shehzad Topiwala (7 days later)

Thank you, yes I had a traumatic and stressful event. I also took Quinine which according to recent research shows a correlation of affecting the pancrease adversely and causing diabetes eventually. If you look it up on-line one can see the correlation. My question is can it be reversed? I know two type 2 who reversed and were no longer considered diabetics, one I was present with a friend when the MD told her and she had been on Metformin for 20 years. The other was a man who was determined not to do be one and changed his diet and after 3 years was told he was no longer in danger zone and it went back to normal. After a stressful event can one settle down so to speak? Every time I get stressed it goes up to 200-400 depending on the stress. But it comes down fairly quickly within 4-6 hrs.

Answered by Dr. Shehzad Topiwala (8 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Follow up

Detailed Answer:
It is possible quinine and many other drugs may cause pancreatic damage, although at this point it has not made it to the list of causes for diabetes, due to lack of more evidence.

To answer your question about reversibility, yes type 2 diabetes can go away with lifestyle changes in many instances. This is particularly true in the first few years.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Shehzad Topiwala (12 hours later)

Thank you kindly for your thoughtful responses.

I would like to ask now about the blood work that seems to be hay wire. Low WBC, although I usually only get sick with a cold, flu, etc or what ever is going around once a year which has not changed for 20 years.
Would you be able to point me in a direction to improve this blood work profile?

Answered by Dr. Shehzad Topiwala (9 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Second follow up

Detailed Answer:
I only deal with endocrine problems. I suggest you pose this question to a hematologist. (S)he is the most qualified person to give accurate answers

Note: For further follow-up, discuss your blood glucose reports with our diabetologist. Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar