Three newly published studies are exploring whether COVID-19 infection increases the risk of developing type-1 diabetes.
could create a similar reaction, but a link between the two hasn’t been established. Gulseth also speculated delays in seeking medical care because of the pandemic may explain some of the increase in cases. “However, several studies have shown that SARS-CoV-2 can attack the beta cells in the pancreas that produce insulin, which could lead to development of type 1 diabetes,” he explained in the release.
The researchers speculate that the increase in T1D diagnosis after infection is possibly related to increased testing for COVID-19 at the time of the T1D diagnosis rather than from COVID itself.
While the picture on whether or not COVID-19 causes type-1 diabetes is still not fully clear, they point to the need for more vigilance and research into what long-term affects the novel virus may cause.