Maintaining the metabolic homeostasis of Helicobacter pylori through chronic hyperglycemia in diabetes mellitus: A hypothesis

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection occurs in almost half of the world's population, most of whom are merely carriers of this microorganism. H. pylori is shown to be detected more frequently in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) than in the general population, which is accompanied by a significantly increased risk of developing H. pylori-associated diseases. In addition, eradication therapy shows a low efficiency for H. pylori infection in patients with DM. There is a relationship between the level of chronic hyperglycemia and a higher detection rate of H. pylori as well as a lower efficiency of eradication therapy in patients with DM. The exact mechanisms of these phenomena are unknown. The authors make a hypothesis that explains the relationship between chronic hyperglycemia and the increased detection rate of H. pylori, as well as the mechanisms contributing to the improved survival of this bacterium in patients with DM during eradication therapy.