A new study has found an increased risk of developing diabetes following Covid-19. But the risk of diabetes was significantly reduced in people who were vaccinated.
Covid-19, an infectious disease caused by the new coronavirus, swept the world in 2020. It spreads when a person comes into contact with someone who already has the virus. Most people recover fully, but there may be complications later on. Scientists have long hinted at a link between Covid-19 and diabetes. Now, a new study has found an increased risk of type 2 diabetes after being diagnosed with Covid-19. It was found to be higher in people who were hospitalized with coronavirus than in those who were not. The researchers also noted that the risk was significantly less pronounced in people who were vaccinated against Covid-19.
Study Links COVID-19 to Diabetes
A study was conducted on 16 million people, aged between 18 and 110 years, following the COVID-19 diagnosis in England. It involved data from the pre-vaccination period and details of those who had been vaccinated and unvaccinated. It found that in people who had Covid-19 before vaccines were available, the incidence of type 2 diabetes was four times higher during the first four weeks after a Covid-19 diagnosis than before or in the absence of coronavirus.
The study published in The Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology in July 2024, revealed that the incidence of type 2 diabetes remained high (64 percent) during the second year after diagnosis. It was twice as high in individuals hospitalized with CovidD-19. But the incidence of type 2 diabetes after Covid-19 was reduced in vaccinated people compared to unvaccinated people. The incidence of type 1 diabetes was also high, but only during the first year after Covid-19 diagnosis. As for the incidence of gestational diabetes, it did not appear to be elevated after coronavirus diagnosis.
Vaccine against covid-19
In 2021, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the first COVID-19 vaccine, known as the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. The virus continues to spread, but safe and effective vaccines can help ensure that COVID-19 does not cause serious illness or death. Vaccines against covid saved the lives of an estimated 14.4 million people worldwide in 2021 alone, according to the World Health Organization.
Getting vaccinated against coronavirus also reduces the likelihood of new infections Covid Variants from emergence. A single dose regimen is recommended by WHO for primary immunization for most Covid-19 vaccines to provide adequate protection. A person can still get Covid-19 after vaccination, but the symptoms will be mild or not notice any signs. Symptoms such as fever, chills, and sore throat usually begin to appear 5 or 6 days after exposure.
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What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic disease, characterized by high levels of glucose or sugar in the blood. It can damage the kidneys, heart, blood vessels and eyes. There are two main types of diabetes, according to the UK’s National Health Service.
- Type 1 diabetes is a chronic disease in which the immune system attacks and then kills the cells responsible for producing insulin.
- Type 2 diabetes It is a condition in which the body is unable to produce enough insulin or the cells stop responding to insulin properly.
Gestational diabetes is another type of diabetes that develops during pregnancy. It occurs when a woman has high blood sugar and usually goes away after delivery, as per National Health Service.
How to protect yourself from Covid-19?
Even though COVID-9 is no longer a health emergency, you should follow the recommendations of the World Health Organization –
- Get vaccinated.
- Maintain a physical distance of at least one meter from other people. So, avoid crowds and close contact with anyone, even if they do not appear sick.
- When physical distancing is not possible, wear a mask that covers your face well.
- Wash your hands with soap and water or use hand sanitizer.
- When you sneeze or cough, cover your nose and mouth with a tissue, then immediately throw away the used tissue.