Although the SARS-CoV-2 virus primarily targets the lungs, the impact of COVID-19 extends far beyond the respiratory system. A recent study reveals a troubling link between COVID-19 infection and an increased risk of type 2 diabetes in children, adding to the growing list of long-term health complications associated with the virus.
Researchers evaluated the risk of new-onset type 2 diabetes following COVID-19 infection in a group of 613,602 patients aged 10 to 19. By analyzing electronic health records, they tracked the incidence of type 2 diabetes in these pediatric patients at 1, 3, and 6 months after infection with either SARS-CoV-2 or another respiratory pathogen between January 2020 and December 2022.
