COVID-19 increases risk of type 2 diabetes by 28%: Study

A study published in the journal ‘Diabetologia’ has deduced that individuals who have contracted the coronavirus in the past are at a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

According to multiple studies, the SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 viruses) has the tendency to target the human pancreas. Researchers have observed lesser numbers of insulin secretory granules in beta cells and poor secretion of insulin in individuals who have recovered after contracting the viral infection. 

Furthermore, after recuperating from the virus, some patients with no prior history of diabetes have developed a resistance to insulin, resulting in increased glucose levels in their bloodstream. 

The study has found that SARS-CoV-2 infection may result in a strong release of cytokines, a type of small proteins essential for cell signalling. 

The retrospective cohort study was conducted by researchers from the German Diabetes Center (DDZ)  German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD) and IQVIA (Frankfurt). 

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The study involved a panel of 1,171 physician practices in Germany from March 2020 to January 2021 that covered over 8.8 million patients. 

“The aim of our study was to investigate the incidence of diabetes after infection with SARS-CoV-2,” said Wolfgang Rathmann, first author of the study. 

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“Our analyses showed that patients with Covid-19 developed type 2 diabetes more frequently than people with AURI. The incidence of diabetes with COVID-19 infection was 15.8 compared to 12.3 per 1000 people per year with AURI. The statistical analysis resulted in an incidence rate ratio (IRR) of 1.28. Put simply, this means that the relative risk of developing type 2 diabetes was 28% higher in the COVID-19 group than in the AURI group,” Rathmann added. 

According to the authors of the study, people who have recuperated from COVID-19 should be on the lookout for symptoms of diabetes like frequent urination, fatigue and increased thirst, and must seek treatment if diagnosed.