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Children and teenagers who have been infected with COVID-19 are more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes than those afflicted by other respiratory illnesses, according to new research. The study, published in the JAMA Network Open says more than 50 per cent of kids are more likely to be diagnosed with high blood sugar levels within six months of contracting the coronavirus infection.

Others impacted by respiratory illnesses like seasonal influenza and bronchitis have relatively lesser chances.

However, the researchers also made a shocking discovery that chances skyrocketed for obese children - who clocked in at a staggering 100 per cent more likelihood of the debilitating disease.

For the study, the scientists employed health records of more than 60,000 children aged 10-19 from January 2020, before the coronavirus was declared a pandemic - to December 2022. The records were then categorized into two groups – one which had tested positive for COVID-19, and the other for those who contracted all other respiratory illnesses. From there, all correlations with positive diabetes diagnoses were noted and studied.

Researchers say a few health records came from before the vaccines for COVID-10 were made available to children – which is before October 2021. The research does not note if the subjects received the vaccines or not.

According to experts, the virus may affect blood sugar metabolism and those who are more susceptible to diabetes may be particularly vulnerable to these bodily changes. The increased rate of type 2 diabetes also has links to inflammation and changes in the immune system with COVID-19.

The indirect effects of COVID-19 are also associated with diabetes, like stress and isolation – both of which shoot up insulin resistance. Apart from these issues, also sedentary lifestyles and unhealthy eating habits during the pandemic may play an important role in increasing the likelihood of children becoming diabetic.

According to previous studies, COVID-19 leads to the development of type 2 diabetes through various mechanisms, a few of which include:

• Attacking pancreatic cells
• High blood sugar due to a cytokine storm, which is a severe reaction of the immune system
• Changes in glucose metabolism due to the infection

Do children with diabetes have a higher risk for COVID-19 complications

Those children who have type 2 diabetes have a slightly higher risk of severe illness and complications of COVID-19, as it may increase their chances of hospital admission, morbidity, and mortality with the viral infection.

COVID-19 also makes it difficult to control blood sugar levels – and that is linked to severe infection.

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