“It’s important for parents to be aware of the signs and symptoms of diabetes”
Children who have recovered from Covid-19 appear to be at “significantly increased risk” of developing Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes, researchers at the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have established.
The researchers made the discovery by examining insurance claim databases to asses the prevalence of new diabetes diagnoses in children under age 18 who were known to be infected with Coronavirus. They found a 2.6-fold increase in new diabetes cases among children in one, and a 30% increase in another.
It is not yet clear whether post-Covid diabetes is a chronic condition, or a transient condition that can be resolved, as most of the children were only followed four and a half months.
Dr. Sharon Saydah, a researcher at the C.D.C. told the New York Times, “the finding underscores the importance of vaccinating all eligible children against Covid and using measures like masking and distancing, especially to protect the youngest, who cannot yet be vaccinated.”
She added: “It’s really important for clinicians, pediatricians and parents to be aware of the signs and symptoms of diabetes, so they can get their kids diagnosed. Increased thirst, frequent urination, unintentional weight loss and fatigue are among the telltale symptoms.”
A heightened risk of diabetes has already been established among adults who have recovered from Covid.
