COVID-19 Infection May Increase Likelihood of Developing Diabetes: Study

An overseas study has found that COVID-19 infection can increase the possibility of developing diabetes.

The New York Times (NYT) reported on the 18th (local time) that a research team led by Professor Navid Janzoa of the University of British Columbia in Canada published a thesis on this subject through the JAMA Network Open, a medical journal published by the American Medical Association.

According to a study that followed 125,000 people who were infected with Corona 19 in the past 2020 and 2021, the likelihood of developing diabetes within a year increased by 17%.

In particular, men infected with COVID-19 had a 22% chance of developing diabetes. In the case of women, the researchers explained that they could not confirm statistically significant statistical changes except for patients with severe Corona 19.

In this regard, Professor Pamela Davis of Western Reserve University argued that the Corona 19 virus could adversely affect the function of beta cells in the pancreas that secrete insulin.

It is explained that when the number of beta cells that have lost their function due to the Corona 19 virus increases, insulin secretion fails, leading to diabetes.

In addition, in the case of severe COVID-19 patients, excessive antibodies produced to respond to the virus can even attack beta cells.

Infection with viruses, such as the virus that causes hepatitis C (HCV), has also been linked to the development of diabetes, said Professor Janjoua. Stress in people infected with COVID-19 was also cited as a factor influencing the development of diabetes.

The NYT said that this study does not mean that COVID-19 infection directly causes diabetes.

Some experts have pointed out that people with COVID-19 are more likely to be diagnosed with diabetes because they receive more regular treatment than non-infected people during treatment.