Millions of people could be at risk of developing diabetes if they contract a common viral infection!

A recent study showed that there is a possible link between a common viral infection and diabetes.

The research paper says: “A growing body of evidence suggests a link between Covid-19 and new diagnoses of diabetes.

The researchers noted: “It is not clear whether COVID-19 increases the detection of pre-existing diabetes or may lead to a new onset of the disease.”

By creating a global online registry of COVID-19-associated diabetes cases, the team analyzed newly diagnosed diabetes that occurred within four weeks of being infected with COVID-19.

To rule out pre-existing signs of hyperglycemia (high blood sugar), new onset diabetes was defined as follows:

– No medical history.

No history of hypoglycemic drugs.

Your blood sugar (HbA1c) was less than 6.5% at admission.

Blood sugar levels are above the diabetes threshold.

Data were collected between October and April 2022 at 61 hospitals in 25 countries on 537 eligible cases of newly diagnosed diabetes.

And in 45% of patients recently classified as diabetics, the rise in blood sugar levels persisted beyond the results of Covid infection. Further follow-up data, three months later, were available for 28 such cases, which showed that 23 patients continued to be classified as diabetic.

The authors stated: “This study demonstrates the clinical validity of the antidiabetic effect of COVID-19.”

In addition, the researchers suggest that their results support screening for diabetes in people with COVID-19.

“Further studies are needed to confirm the mechanisms of viral interference in glucose metabolism,” they added.

While more research is needed in this area, people who already have diabetes should be aware that they are also more likely to develop a severe infection from Covid-19.

Diabetics who have contracted COVID-19 are advised to check their blood sugar frequently.

The preliminary paper, which has not yet been peer-reviewed, has been published in Research Square.

Source: Express