The future may bring diabetes due to Covid-19

Updated on March 23, 2022 17:54 PM by Anthony Christian

Scary situation due to the pandemic

Researchers studying the future effects of the pandemic have been alert to sequencing samples to seek out new variants and lineages in the making for quite some time. However, other researchers have studied for decades how those infected in the future will be affected by the pandemic in terms of their overall health and lifestyle. Virus-weary people are losing hope that the pandemic will end anytime soon, thanks to the emergence of new Covid-19 variants every few months. This study has been published in the journal Diabetologia.

Decrease in insulin shows research

Research has shown that the SARS-CoV-2 infects the pancreas. The infection impairs glucose-stimulated insulin secretion and reduces the number of insulin secretory granules in beta cells. Moreover, SARS-CoV-2 -infections are associated with elevated blood sugar levels in patients without any prior history of diabetes. Furthermore, pro-inflammatory signals called cytokines are released powerfully after Covid.

Increase in diabetes due to Covid

Infatuation with insulin for indefinite periods can cause the immune system to become activated even after the infection leaves, impairing insulin benefit to fat cells, muscles, and the liver. There is still no clear evidence that metabolic changes in Covid-19 disease are temporary or if they increase the risk of persistent diabetes.

Huge record of the patient

From March 2020 to January 2021, researchers surveyed 8.8 million patients across 1,320 physician practices in Germany. Virus-caused acute upper respiratory tract infections (AURIs) also comprise another group of people.

Insurance claims for these kinds of cohorts

Patients on corticosteroid therapy were excluded from the study due to their presence in both cohorts of comorbidities such as obesity, hypertension, high cholesterol, and month of diagnosis by Covid-19 or AURI. All fellows were matched for health insurance and comorbidities aside from sex and gender.