When the Covid-19 pandemic emerged, it was known that type-2 diabetes patients were in the risk group. Internal Diseases and Endocrinology Specialists, however, warned that diabetes symptoms have recently started to be seen in patients who did not have a diagnosis of diabetes before infection. 

Yeditepe University Hospitals Internal Diseases and Endocrinology Specialist said that if patients with Covid-19 have type-2 diabetes, the disease progresses more severely, and added, "They are more likely to be hospitalized and their need for intensive care is higher than those without diabetes. The reason is that diabetes is a disease that suppresses the immune system. Covid-19 is a severe disease by itself. When diabetes that suppresses the immune system is added, the patient has a much more severe disease."

Stating that another issue they have encountered recently is that Covid-19 infection creates a tendency to diabetes due to systemic retention, Yeditepe University Hospitals Internal Diseases and Endocrinology Specialist stated, "Both the use of cortisone-containing drugs and Covid-19 infection damaging the pancreas directly can cause the development of diabetes."

Risk of Diabetes Increases Post Covid

Our expert, who informed that striking results were obtained in a study conducted by US scientists comparing 181 thousand patients who had Covid-19 with a group that did not have the disease, stated that according to the study whose results were published in 2021, the risk of diabetes increased by 40 percent in those who had Covid-19 compared to those who did not.

Stating that three factors can lead to an increased risk of diabetes, our expert gave the following information on the subject; "First of all, the Covid virus causes direct damage to the pancreas, reducing its capacity to produce insulin and then may predispose to diabetes. As a second factor, during the pandemic, inactivity, excessive calorie food consumption may increase insulin resistance and lead to the development of diabetes. Thirdly, cortisone medication used in those with moderate or severe Covid-19 can predispose to diabetes."

Stating that people who use medication and diet for hidden diabetes before Covid infection cannot use these medications regularly and cannot diet regularly during and after Covid-19, our specialist emphasized that this factor may lead to an increased risk of diabetes.

More Caution Required After Covid

Stating that people who have had Covid-19 should be more careful than ever after the disease, our expert also made important recommendations: "There is a 40 percent increase in diabetes risk in the post-Covid period. For this reason, people who have undergone Covid-19 should follow their sugar follow-up more carefully after the disease. They should also stay away from carbohydrate and sugar-based nutrition. It is also very important not to be sedentary and to maintain activities appropriate to age and climatic conditions. It is well known that exercise both reduces the risk of diabetes development and has positive effects on blood sugar control in people with diabetes."

Temporary Diabetes May Develop Post Covid-19

Stating that type-2 diabetes developed due to Covid-19 is mostly temporary, our specialist also stated that diabetes developing after Covid lasts up to 6 months at most, and at the end of 6 months, the person's blood sugar drops to normal levels and disappears spontaneously. Our expert continued his words as follows: "This will lead to a new classification. Probably a diagnosis such as "Post Covid Diabetes" will emerge. These patients seem to have different characteristics. It constitutes a different type than the usual types of diabetes. On the one hand, it is seen as an autoimmune disease course. We observe the development of auto antibodies against the pancreas. On the other hand, a condition like type-1 diabetes emerges. Patients require insulin and cannot be treated with oral medication. However, on the other hand, it is a temporary disease, patients recover spontaneously after 6 months."

It Is Not Known How Much Damage It Causes To the Pancreas

Pointing out that although type-2 diabetes after Covid-19 is temporary, the damage to the body in the future is not yet clearly known, Yeditepe University Hospitals Internal Diseases and Endocrinology Specialist pointed out that unfortunately, the degree of damage is not known since the pathology is not taken from the pancreas of Covid-19 patients. Stating that if an autopsy can be performed on people who died due to Covid-19, the extent to which Covid-19 affects the pancreas can be known, our expert concluded his words by adding that unfortunately, such a research has not been carried out in our country or the world so far.

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