Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a growing problem in the United States and the issue is even more concerning with recent studies showing a link to developing diabetes.
Diabetes carries a high morbidity and a significant decrease in quality of life. The aim of this study was to find possible links between IBD symptom experience, quality of life and treatments and diabetes. A cohort of 525 IBD patients was selected from those who saw an IBD specialist within the last five years at the Hershey Medical Center and filled out a survey relating to their IBD experience. A statistical analysis was performed including bivariate and multivariable logistic regression models to assess if any treatment or symptom variables showed a significant correlation to diabetes. There was a significant increase in the incidence of diabetes for IBD patients who received mesalamine (OR = 2.06, P = .0018). Also fatigue and anti-TNF both showed increased incidence of diabetes when looking at CD patients alone (OR: 6.86, p value: 0.026 and OR: 2.21, p value: 0.034 respectively). These findings suggest possible links between IBD and diabetes. However, future prospective studies must be performed to assess causality.