A new study published in the prestigious journal Nature Metabolism found that nearly half of all patients hospitalized with corona were diagnosed with new diabetes.
An Italian study found that about half of the patients hospitalized for the corona virus had experienced cases of hyperglycemia, or high blood sugar levels, meaning they were diagnosed with diabetes.
"These are people who have not had diabetes in the past."
According to Dr. Paulo Fiorina of the Department of Nephrology at Boston Children's Hospital.
While in most patients the case of hyperglycemia passed and did not return, about 35% of the new patients remained diabetic for at least six months after infection. "
The study assessed the health of 551 people hospitalized in Italy from March to May 2020. The follow-up period was six months from the day of hospitalization.
Compared with patients without diabetes problems, patients who suffered from hyperglycemia also had severe clinical conditions such as long hospitalizations, severe clinical symptoms, higher need for oxygen, more need for intensive care.
In order to analyze their condition, patients were given a continuous glucose meter which identified many disturbances in the control of metabolism and hyperglycemic conditions.
Hyperglycemic patients were also found to have abnormal hormonal levels.
"We found that they were severely hyperinsulinemic; they produced too much insulin," says Fiorina.
"They also had abnormal levels of pro-insulin, insulin precursor, and markers of beta cell dysfunction. Pancreatic beta cells that produce and secrete insulin. Many patients had higher postprandial sugar levels and abnormal pancreatic hormones in the post-coronary period."
According to Prof. Julio Weinstein, director of the diabetes unit at Wolfson Hospital and a senior diabetes physician at the DMC Center for Diabetes: “This study is one of the first to show that the corona virus has a direct effect on the pancreas. This suggests that the pancreas is another target of the virus affecting not only the acute phase during hospitalization but also the long-term health of these patients. Studies have found that diabetics who monitor blood sugar levels and stay balanced using a continuous glucose meter without punctures are at a significantly lower risk of developing coronary heart disease severely. It is very important to maintain, monitor sugar levels, consult with the medical staff and persevere with physical activity even these days. "
