Covid

COVID-19 triggers diabetes in healthy people

As one way of analyzing COVID-19, scientists are developing studies regarding its effects on healthy people. This is because several cases show that groups without a history of the disease continue to develop severe symptoms of COVID-19.

Study from New England Journal of Medicine suggests COVID-19 might trigger diabetes in healthy people. This condition is also what ultimately makes them suffer severe complications from COVID-19.

This study aims to understand the characteristics and the extent to which diabetes can affect COVID-19 patients. That way, researchers can find out how to monitor and treat patients with diabetes during and after the pandemic.

Diabetes is often associated with an increased risk of complications and death from COVID-19. About 20-30% of COVID-19 patients who die are reported to have diabetes. The emergence of new diabetes and metabolic complications were also observed in COVID-19 patients.

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In fact, it is still unclear how the virus that causes COVID-19 affects diabetes. Previous studies have shown that the virus-bound protein, ACE-2, is not only present in the lungs but also in other organs.

Organs and tissues that are involved in glucose metabolism, such as the pancreas, fat tissue, and liver are also found in the same protein. Researchers are trying to draw the conclusion that COVID-19 that enters tissues can impair glucose metabolism function which may lead to type 1 diabetes

According to Francesco Rubino, a researcher who is a professor of surgery at King's College London, diabetes is a fairly common chronic disease. That is, passing the virus transmission droplet (saliva splashes) can affect glucose, although the cause is not yet known.

On the other hand, experts are also still finding out what type of diabetes is caused by this respiratory disease, such as whether COVID-19 can trigger type 1, 2 diabetes or a new type and how long it lasts in the body or will disappear after infection.

Therefore, further research is needed regarding the impact of COVID-19 on diabetes in healthy people and those who have been affected from the start.

Why is diabetes dangerous for COVID-19 patients?

COVID-19 patients who have a history of chronic diseases such as diabetes may develop severe symptoms.

What's more, COVID-19 patients with diabetes will be more difficult to treat because of unstable blood sugar levels. As a result, it does not rule out diabetes complications can occur.

So, what makes diabetes complicate the condition of COVID-19 patients? So far, experts are still trying to find out, but there are two things that might be the cause of this condition.

First, a compromised immune system makes it difficult for COVID-19 patients to fight the virus. Second, the developing virus also causes blood glucose to increase dramatically.

The two factors above seem to be the reason why people with diabetes are among the groups that can trigger severe conditions due to COVID-19. This condition applies to both type 1 and type 2 diabetes sufferers.

In general, the two types of diabetes show no difference when exposed to COVID-19. However, what is important to note is age, complications experienced, and how well patients managed their previous diabetes.

What do people with diabetes need to do?

The possibility of COVID-19 triggering new diabetes in healthy people still requires further research. Therefore, the community needs to be more vigilant and carry out efforts to prevent transmission of COVID-19 properly.

This applies to everyone, including people with diabetes and those with risk factors for the disease. Here are some things that can be done in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic for people with diabetes and those at risk.