New study: Increased risk of diabetes for people previously affected by Covid-19

People who have been previously infected with Covid-19 could be at increased risk of diabetes, according to a new study.

Doctors at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles analyzed the medical records of 23,709 adult patients who had at least one documented covid-19 infection between 2020 and 2022.

They found that the pooled risk of someone developing type 2 diabetes after a Covid-19 episode was 2.1%, with 70% after Covid-19 infection versus 30% before exposure.

This represented both vaccinated and unvaccinated patients.

The risk of type 2 diabetes after exposure for unvaccinated patients was 2.7%, with 74% occurring after infection versus 26% before exposure, the study also found.

For vaccinated patients, the risk of type 2 diabetes was 1%, with 51% post-infection and 49% pre-exposure.

Dr. Alan Kwan said the results revealed a risk of developing the condition after a covid-19 infection, and that the risk has persisted through the Omicron phase as well.

“These results suggest that vaccination against covid-19 before infection may provide a protective effect against the risk of diabetes,” he said.

Because type 2 diabetes is one of the leading causes of cardiovascular disease, Dr. Kwan also said the study findings would better prepare clinicians for the post-COVID-19 era of cardiovascular risk.

The findings have been published in the JAMA Network Open Medical journal.

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