Background: The prevalence of diabetes is rapidly escalating, with projections indicating that 783 million individuals aged 20-79 years worldwide will be affected by diabetes. This rise is concurrent with a persistent prevalence of HIV in developing nations, while conventional risk factors such as sedentary lifestyle and unhealthy diet may account for this trend, HIV and its treatment have emerged as potential contributing factors. Achieving optimal diabetes control in patients with HIV necessitates a profound understanding of the intricate interplay between the two diseases and their respective treatments.
Case report: We present a case involving a patient with long standing type 2 diabetes, coexisting HIV infection and hypertension. Despite receiving high doses of insulin, as advised by most diabetes guidelines, the patient's diabetes remained poorly controlled. In lieu of strictly adhering to guidelines, our primary focus was to conduct a comprehensive reevaluation of the patient's medications, prioritizing the development of streamlined and safe treatment regimens for all three of her medical conditions. Employing this strategy, we observed swift improvement in blood glucose levels, leading to successful diabetes control within one year.
Conclusion: This case underscores the importance of individualizing diabetes management in patients with multiple comorbidities. It highlights the significance of reassessing treatment approaches beyond standard guidelines, with a focus on tailoring therapy to suit the unique needs and complexities of each patient's medical profile. Such personalized interventions hold promise for achieving optimal diabetes control in individuals with diverse comorbidities.
Keywords: HIV; Rwanda; case report; diabetes.
© 2023 Kabakambira and Kong.