A British study has suggested a direct correlation between COVID-19 and the risk of triggering Type-1 Diabetes. Researchers said that a rise in Type-1 Diabetes cases has been observed among children since the COVID-19 outbreak, according to a GMA Network report.
The study, based on 30 cases from two hospitals, reported an 80% surge in cases from the previous years. "When we investigated further, some of these children had active coronavirus or had previously been exposed to the virus," study co-author Karen Logan of St. Mary's Hospital in London said.
What is in the Study?
In Type-1 Diabetes, also known as ‘juvenile diabetes’, insulin producing cells in the pancreas are destroyed. This prevents the body from producing sufficient insulin and disturbs the blood sugar levels.
Researchers have suggested the possibility of the novel coronavirus attacking these insulin producing cells, which leads to an increased occurrence of Type-1 Diabetes.
“More research is needed to establish whether there is a definitive link ... but in the meantime we hope clinicians will be mindful of this.”Karen Logan, St. Mary’s Hospital, London
(With Inputs from GMA Network)
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