Background: -Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a major human bacterial pathogen, the chronic infection
of which causes a number of upper gastrointestinal effects. Chronic exposure to cigarette smoke in Helicobacter
pylori infected patients enhances the risk of gastric mucosal atrophy and intestinal metaplasia. Objectives: evaluate
the prevalence of H. pylori infection in type 2 diabetes patients and its relation smoking. Subjects and methods: -
The study was carried out on 100 individuals divided into; 50 patients diagnosed as T2DM and 50 healthy
volunteers formed the control group. All were subjected to history taking, clinical examination, H. pylori
immunoglobulin G level, fasting blood glucose and lipid profile, Urea Breath Test (UBT) for the positive H. pylori
IgG. Results: The difference of H. pylori prevalence between diabetics (54%) and control (28%) was significant
(p=0.008) and maximum positivity was in groups with higher HbA1C level (p=0.037). In both groups, subjects with
H pylori seropositivity had significantly high serum cholesterol, serum triglycerides, serum low-density lipoprotein
(LDL) and low serum high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels compared to negative H. pylori. In diabetic group there
was statistically significant difference in the incidence of H. pylori positivity between smokers & non-smokers
(p=0.016). H. pylori infection was more prevalent in males in diabetic group. Conclusion: higher frequency of H.
pylori infection in diabetic patients(smokers more than nonsmokers), may indicate a potential association between
H. pylori infection and T2DM. If the relationship between the two is established, preventive measures should be
implemented for this treatable disorder especially in high risk communities.