“Adolescents who have been infected with COVID-19 are at higher risk of developing diabetes, even if they have never had the disease before. According to research, the corona virus is thought to be able to attack pancreatic cells.
Halodoc, Jakarta – COVID-19 can not only attack the respiratory system, but can also make a person susceptible to various diseases. According to a recent study in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, infection caused by the coronavirus can increase the risk of diabetes among children and adolescents.
Although it is known that people with diabetes are at increased risk of developing severe COVID-19, growing evidence suggests that the disease can lead to new diabetes.
Previous studies have found that an average of 14 percent of adults who are hospitalized with COVID-19 experience a new diabetes attack. It turns out that it can not only happen to adults, but also to teenagers.
Attacking Pancreatic Cells
According to the United States (US) Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), research over the past two years of the pandemic has shown that COVID-19 is associated with worse diabetes symptoms for those who already have the disease.
In addition, the report also shows an increased risk of diabetes, especially for young people under 18 years. This is according to US data collected during the pandemic from March 2020 to the end of June 2021.
According to JAMA Network Open, according to the Health Verity database which has data for nearly 900,000 pediatric patients, about half developed COVID-19 between March 2020 and June 2021. Among patients with COVID-19, a new diabetes diagnosis was 31 percent more likely than those without the disease.
According to the study authors, COVID-19 can directly cause new diabetes by attacking pancreatic cells that express receptors for the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). These are enzymes that attach to the cell surfaces of some organs, such as the lungs, heart, kidneys, and intestines. More ACE2 in the pancreas can cause severe damage to the organ. The damaged pancreas cannot produce insulin, which plays an important role in regulating blood sugar levels.
In addition, hyperglycemia stress due to COVID-19 infection can also be the reason behind the increase in diabetes in adolescents who experience COVID-19. Hyperglycemia stress is a condition of high blood sugar levels that occurs when a person has a disease, even though the person has been proven not to have diabetes before.
COVID-19 can also change glucose metabolism which can lead to diabetes. The study authors note that infection with the virus can cause prediabetes to develop into diabetes.
That is why doctors are advised to be vigilant and screen for diabetes in children and adolescents who have a history of COVID-19 infection.
Watch for Symptoms
Symptoms of diabetes actually depend on how high blood sugar levels are. Some people have no symptoms, especially if they have prediabetes or type 2 diabetes. However, type 1 diabetes usually causes symptoms quickly and is more severe.
Because they are often asymptomatic, parents are expected to be vigilant if their child has ever been exposed to COVID-19. It’s best to check your child’s blood sugar levels regularly. See a doctor immediately if your child has the following diabetes symptoms:
- Feeling more thirsty than usual.
- Frequent urination.
- Losing weight, even though not on a diet.
- Feeling tired and weak.
- Irritability or other mood swings.
- Blurred vision.
Tips for Preventing Diabetes in Adolescents After COVID-19
So that children who have been infected with COVID-19 can avoid diabetes, here are some tips that can be done:
- Try to lose weight in a healthy way if you are overweight.
- Exercise regularly. These tips can help maintain insulin sensitivity and weight, thereby preventing diabetes.
- Change your diet to be healthier gradually. For example, start reducing sugary drinks and eating more vegetables.
That is an explanation of COVID-19 which can cause diabetes in adolescents. To check the child’s health condition, mothers can use the application Halodoc just. To do this, all you have to do is make an appointment at the hospital of your choice through the application. You can specify the doctor and the desired visit time. come on, downloads application Halodoc now on the App Store or Google Play!
Reference:
JAMA Network Open. Retrieved 2022. COVID-19 Linked With Increased Incidence of Youth Diabetes.
CTV News. Accessed in 2022. Type 1 diabetes risk increases in young people following COVID-19 infection, studies suggest.
MedRxiv. Retrieved 2022. Highly ACE2 Expression in Pancreas May Cause Pancreas Damage After SARS-CoV-2 Infection.
Mayo Clinic. Accessed 2022. Diabetes.
Wexner Medical Center. Accessed in 2022. Why are people developing diabetes after having COVID-19?
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