COVID 19 leading to diabetes in India? Researchers throw light

Maharashtra, India: The researchers from India have found a new trend to be prevalent in India -- coronavirus infection is leading to the onset of diabetes mellitus (DM). The findings of the study are published in the Journal of Postgraduate Medicine.

It is already known that presentation of diabetics with COVID-19 is severe compared to non-DM patients. Diabetic ketoacidosis and severe hyperglycemia are common observation in patients with previous history of diabetes. However, there has been cases whereby the patients without any family history of diabetes, having near normal blood sugar levels experience new-onset hyperglycaemia. This new diabetes onset in COVID-19 patients is experienced globally. 

So called "COVID-19 related DM" is a matter of concern during management. Eventually subcutaneous or intravenous insulin is used for achieving normoglycemia during hospitalization. However, COVID-19 related DM may achieve normal blood sugar with insulin as compared to patients with preexisting DM. But the use of associated steroid may complicate the situation. 

VK Shivane, AR Lila, and TR Bandgar from Medical College and KEM Hospital, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India, say that there is a need for formulating the registry of "COVID-19 related DM" from various COVID centers and hospitals of India. Also, there is a need to explore whether these patients become permanently diabetic in future or achieve remission.