What do we know so far about COVID-19 and diabetes?
What do we know so far about COVID-19 and diabetes?
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Type 2 diabetes is considered an underlying (pre-existing) medical condition that has the "strongest and most consistent evidence" for increasing the risk of severe illness due to COVID-19, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In July 2020, U.S. health officials stated that almost 40% of people who have died with COVID-19 had diabetes. Beyond diabetes leading to COVID-19 complications, researchers are now studying the potential for COVID-19 to lead to diabetes. Medical experts have reported diabetes onset in patients who tested positive. In some cases, the patients appeared to have otherwise recovered from COVID-19, and/or had no previous history, genetic predisposition, or traditional risk factors (such as lifestyle factors) for diabetes. As of October 2020, over 300 doctors applied to share cases for review in a global registry on this topic led by King's College London. The U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) is also funding research on how COVID-19 may cause high blood glucose levels and diabetes. Additionally, doctors as well as researchers have been raising the alarm on how more children appear to be getting diagnosed with diabetes during the COVID-19 pandemic, compared to similar months in previous years. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, other viral infections including influenza and other coronaviruses have been linked to triggering Type 1 diabetes, but this is usually in people who are predisposed to developing diabetes. While researchers know that infections stress the body and can lead to higher blood glucose levels, researchers still have not fully understood why some people develop diabetes after infection and others do not. The connections between COVID-19 and diabetes are continuing to be studied. Diabetes is a disease where the blood glucose (sugar) levels are too high, and is generally differentiated into Type 1 (where the body cannot produce the insulin that is required to turn blood glucose into energy) and Type 2 (where the body does not respond well to insulin, allowing blood glucose levels to rise).
Type 2 diabetes is considered an underlying (pre-existing) medical condition that has the "strongest and most consistent evidence" for increasing the risk of severe illness due to COVID-19, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In July 2020, U.S. health officials stated that almost 40% of people who have died with COVID-19 had diabetes. Beyond diabetes leading to COVID-19 complications, researchers are now studying the potential for COVID-19 to lead to diabetes. Medical experts have reported diabetes onset in patients who tested positive. In some cases, the patients appeared to have otherwise recovered from COVID-19, and/or had no previous history, genetic predisposition, or traditional risk factors (such as lifestyle factors) for diabetes. As of October 2020, over 300 doctors applied to share cases for review in a global registry on this topic led by King's College London. The U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) is also funding research on how COVID-19 may cause high blood glucose levels and diabetes. Additionally, doctors as well as researchers have been raising the alarm on how more children appear to be getting diagnosed with diabetes during the COVID-19 pandemic, compared to similar months in previous years. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, other viral infections including influenza and other coronaviruses have been linked to triggering Type 1 diabetes, but this is usually in people who are predisposed to developing diabetes. While researchers know that infections stress the body and can lead to higher blood glucose levels, researchers still have not fully understood why some people develop diabetes after infection and others do not. The connections between COVID-19 and diabetes are continuing to be studied. Diabetes is a disease where the blood glucose (sugar) levels are too high, and is generally differentiated into Type 1 (where the body cannot produce the insulin that is required to turn blood glucose into energy) and Type 2 (where the body does not respond well to insulin, allowing blood glucose levels to rise).
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What our experts say
Type 2 diabetes is considered an underlying (pre-existing) medical condition that has the "strongest and most consistent evidence" for increasing the risk of severe illness due to COVID-19, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In July 2020, U.S. health officials stated that almost 40% of people who have died with COVID-19 had diabetes.
Beyond diabetes leading to COVID-19 complications, researchers are now studying the potential for COVID-19 to lead to diabetes. Medical experts have reported diabetes onset in patients who tested positive. In some cases, the patients appeared to have otherwise recovered from COVID-19, and/or had no previous history, genetic predisposition, or traditional risk factors (such as lifestyle factors) for diabetes.
As of October 2020, over 300 doctors applied to share cases for review in a global registry on this topic led by King's College London. The U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) is also funding research on how COVID-19 may cause high blood glucose levels and diabetes.
Additionally, doctors as well as researchers have been raising the alarm on how more children appear to be getting diagnosed with diabetes during the COVID-19 pandemic, compared to similar months in previous years.
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, other viral infections including influenza and other coronaviruses have been linked to triggering Type 1 diabetes, but this is usually in people who are predisposed to developing diabetes. While researchers know that infections stress the body and can lead to higher blood glucose levels, researchers still have not fully understood why some people develop diabetes after infection and others do not. The connections between COVID-19 and diabetes are continuing to be studied.
Diabetes is a disease where the blood glucose (sugar) levels are too high, and is generally differentiated into Type 1 (where the body cannot produce the insulin that is required to turn blood glucose into energy) and Type 2 (where the body does not respond well to insulin, allowing blood glucose levels to rise).
Type 2 diabetes is considered an underlying (pre-existing) medical condition that has the "strongest and most consistent evidence" for increasing the risk of severe illness due to COVID-19, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In July 2020, U.S. health officials stated that almost 40% of people who have died with COVID-19 had diabetes.
Beyond diabetes leading to COVID-19 complications, researchers are now studying the potential for COVID-19 to lead to diabetes. Medical experts have reported diabetes onset in patients who tested positive. In some cases, the patients appeared to have otherwise recovered from COVID-19, and/or had no previous history, genetic predisposition, or traditional risk factors (such as lifestyle factors) for diabetes.
As of October 2020, over 300 doctors applied to share cases for review in a global registry on this topic led by King's College London. The U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) is also funding research on how COVID-19 may cause high blood glucose levels and diabetes.
Additionally, doctors as well as researchers have been raising the alarm on how more children appear to be getting diagnosed with diabetes during the COVID-19 pandemic, compared to similar months in previous years.
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, other viral infections including influenza and other coronaviruses have been linked to triggering Type 1 diabetes, but this is usually in people who are predisposed to developing diabetes. While researchers know that infections stress the body and can lead to higher blood glucose levels, researchers still have not fully understood why some people develop diabetes after infection and others do not. The connections between COVID-19 and diabetes are continuing to be studied.
Diabetes is a disease where the blood glucose (sugar) levels are too high, and is generally differentiated into Type 1 (where the body cannot produce the insulin that is required to turn blood glucose into energy) and Type 2 (where the body does not respond well to insulin, allowing blood glucose levels to rise).
Context and background
The media has reported frequently on diabetes being a pre-existing condition that can lead to higher risks of severe COVID-19 illness, and the need for people with diabetes to be cautious during the COVID-19 pandemic. With stories emerging of adults and children getting unexpectedly diagnosed with diabetes after recovering from COVID-19, the media is starting to report on research into whether and how COVID-19 can lead to diabetes.
Diabetes is a medical condition that receives a lot of attention in many countries because it is becoming increasingly common. In the U.S., the American Diabetes Association has estimated that 10.5% of the population had diabetes in 2018, and that the prevalence in seniors was even higher at 26.8%. In Brazil, researchers have estimated that 11.4% of the population between the ages of 20-79 has diabetes and have published studies on barriers faced by Brazilians living with diabetes during the COVID-19 pandemic. In Mexico, the International Diabetes Federation has estimated that 13.5% of the population between the ages of 20-79 had diabetes in 2019.
For World Diabetes Day on November 14, 2020, the United Nations (UN) Secretary General warned that diabetes has been linked to "increased risk of severe disease and death from COVID-19” and shows the need to strengthen health systems around the world.
The media has reported frequently on diabetes being a pre-existing condition that can lead to higher risks of severe COVID-19 illness, and the need for people with diabetes to be cautious during the COVID-19 pandemic. With stories emerging of adults and children getting unexpectedly diagnosed with diabetes after recovering from COVID-19, the media is starting to report on research into whether and how COVID-19 can lead to diabetes.
Diabetes is a medical condition that receives a lot of attention in many countries because it is becoming increasingly common. In the U.S., the American Diabetes Association has estimated that 10.5% of the population had diabetes in 2018, and that the prevalence in seniors was even higher at 26.8%. In Brazil, researchers have estimated that 11.4% of the population between the ages of 20-79 has diabetes and have published studies on barriers faced by Brazilians living with diabetes during the COVID-19 pandemic. In Mexico, the International Diabetes Federation has estimated that 13.5% of the population between the ages of 20-79 had diabetes in 2019.
For World Diabetes Day on November 14, 2020, the United Nations (UN) Secretary General warned that diabetes has been linked to "increased risk of severe disease and death from COVID-19” and shows the need to strengthen health systems around the world.
Resources
- Doctors probe whether COVID-19 is causing diabetes (Reuters)
- Evidence used to update the list of underlying medical conditions that increase a person’s risk of severe illness from COVID-19 (U.S. CDC)
- COVID-19 in people living with diabetes: An international consensus (Journal of Diabetes and its Complications)
- Statistics About Diabetes (American Diabetes Association)
- The impact of COVID-19 on people with diabetes in Brazil (Elsevier Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice)
- Diabetes Atlas (International Diabetes Federation)
- Diabetes increasing COVID risks, showing need to strengthen health systems (UN)
- Doctors probe whether COVID-19 is causing diabetes (Reuters)
- Evidence used to update the list of underlying medical conditions that increase a person’s risk of severe illness from COVID-19 (U.S. CDC)
- COVID-19 in people living with diabetes: An international consensus (Journal of Diabetes and its Complications)
- Statistics About Diabetes (American Diabetes Association)
- The impact of COVID-19 on people with diabetes in Brazil (Elsevier Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice)
- Diabetes Atlas (International Diabetes Federation)
- Diabetes increasing COVID risks, showing need to strengthen health systems (UN)
