A Review of Helicobacter pylori Infection in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus

Gastrointestinal symptoms, such as abdominal discomfort, chronic abdominal pain, dysphagia, heartburn, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and constipation are more common in patients with Diabetes Mellitus (DM) than in the general population. Studies published in the past two decades have suggested a link between Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection and DM in many aspects. These include; higher H. pylori infection prevalence however the data on the prevelance of H. pylori infection in patients with DM are scanty and contradictory, the eradication rate of H. pylori seems to be lower in DM patients than in non-diabetic controls, control of dyspeptic symptoms with eradication as well as association with late complications in DM patients. The aim of the present review is to gain a better understanding of H. pylori infection in DM patients.