It is further hypothesised that viral load fluctuations cause life-long inflammation, which in turn leads to DM because of the resultant insulin resistance; patients with low levels of cluster of differentiation 4 (CD4) count were reported to have higher problems with glucose metabolism than those with higher CD4 counts and through poorly understood mechanisms ARVs are highly associated with the prevalence of DM.2,3,4,9,10 Thus, greater risks for DM amongst PLWHIV are consistently and significantly associated with HIV disease progression.4,9,10. The gene discussed is CD4; the disease is diabetes mellitus.