Researchers examined the risk of young people developing new-onset type 1 diabetes within or after 30 days after infection
Young people who contracted Covid were around 60 per cent more likely to develop type 1 diabetes 30 days or more after infection compared to those who tested negative, researchers found. Covid-19 infection may increase the risk of type 1 diabetes, a nationwide study of 1.2 million children suggests.within or after 30 days after infection.
However, the authors said the exact reason for the increased risk of type 1 diabetes in young people after Covid is not yet fully understood and requires longer-term follow-up and further research into whether the risk could be different in children who are infected with different variants. Dr Hanne Løvdal Gulseth, lead author and research director at the Norwegian Institute of Public Health, said: “Our nationwide study suggests a possible association between Covid-19 and new-onset type 1 diabetes. However, the absolute risk of developing type 1 diabetes increased from 0.08 per cent to 0.13 per cent, and is still low.
“The vast majority of young people who get Covid-19 will not go on to develop type 1 diabetes but it is important that clinicians and parents are aware of the signs and symptoms of type 1 diabetes. Constant thirst, frequent urination, extreme fatigue and unexpected weight loss are tell-tale symptoms.”