Hyderabad: Covid-19 can help cause type 1 diabetes in patients, if only temporarily. A study by city doctors has shown that Covid-19 leads to an excessive build-up of blood acids, which are technically known as diabetic ketoacidosis and can complicate the treatment process.
The virus is already known to make things worse for people with type 2 diabetes. The latest study focused on type 1 or insulin dependent diabetes for Covid-19 infection. The study found that more research is needed to establish a direct link between the virus and type 1 diabetes, but indirectly contribute to its occurrence in Covid-19 patients.
“The novel coronavirus can cause severe diabetic ketoacidosis in people with emerging diabetes. However, there is currently no clear evidence that the virus causes type 1 diabetes on its own. Long-term follow-up of children and adults with emerging diabetes during this pandemic is needed to fully understand the type of diabetes induced by Covid-19, ”reads the study published in the journal Elsevier. The study was conducted by doctors from the Pediatric Endocrinology Department of Rainbow Children’s Hospital in Hyderabad, the Endocrinology Department of Care Multispecialty Hospital in Hyderabad, and the Endocrinology and Diabetes Department of Medanta Hospital in Gurugram, Haryana. The research team consisted of Dr. Sirisha Kusuma Boddu, Dr. Geeta Aurangabadkar and Dr. Mohammad Shafi Kuchay.
The researchers found that Covid-19 is an indiscriminate disease with unequal susceptibility. While hyperglycemia (high blood sugar levels) increases mortality and morbidity related to Covid-19, the virus itself can trigger / worsen hyperglycemia and lead to a malignant cycle.
“While we understand the fascinating mechanism of Covid-19, which causes diabetes or exacerbates existing disease, we still have a few questions. Is the beta cell damage induced by Covid-19 temporary or permanent? Can Covid-19 linger in the beta cells and cause chronic infections and emerging type 1 diabetes? As this pandemic develops, coordinated global efforts may shed some light on these important concerns, “they said, adding that until then, it is advisable to carefully and closely monitor children and adults with emerging diabetes over the long term during this pandemic.
The virus can enter islet cells (which produce insulin) through angiotensin converting enzyme-2 (ACE-2) receptors, causing reversible beta cell damage and transient hyperglycemia, they added.
Type 1 diabetes makes up about five percent of diabetes. It increases by three percent every year.
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