COVID-19 increases the risk of type 2 diabetes, studies show. Scientists aren't sure why, but they have several theories. The coronavirus may advance the progression of diabetes in some way, or perhaps the steroid treatments given to COVID-19 patients have an adverse effect. It also may be people already have diabetes but only are diagnosed after receiving care for COVID-19.
Men were more likely to develop diabetes than women, the scientists found. People who were so sick that they were hospitalized were more than twice as likely to go on to a diabetes diagnosis, compared with those who were not infected.
‘While the virus destroys pancreatic cells affecting the production of insulin, steroids have accelerated underlying conditions. Anxiety and trauma have caused stress hyperglycaemia,’ says Dr Subhash Kumar Wangnoo, Senior Consultant, Endocrinologist and Diabetologist, Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals.
Men and people with severe illnesses were more likely to develop the condition within a year. But the data does not prove that the coronavirus causes diabetes.