Studies are showing a possible link between severe COVID-19 infections and new cases of diabetes.
Doctors have known that people with diabetes are more at risk for severe illness from coronavirus, but now scientists are working to determine if the virus can lead to new cases of diabetes.
Nearly a year into the pandemic, effects of "long COVID" have been documented in many patients, as have other neurological symptoms, blood clots, strokes, and heart and kidney damage. Out of 3,700 hospitalized patients, as many as 14.4% were newly diagnosed with diabetes.
Doctors in Wuhan, China reported a link between COVID-19 and elevated blood sugar levels. Italian scientists also looked into whether these elevated blood sugar levels could lead to diabetes.
Leading diabetes scientists in the United Kingdom and Australia are establishing a global registry of coronavirus-related diabetes cases.
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