SARS-CoV-2 Infection Related Diabetes Mellitus

Introduction: SARS-Cov-2 (severe acute respiratory distress syndrome- coronavirus 2) viral infection has a predilection for pancreatic beta cells causing insulin deficiency. Studies from the SARS-CoV outbreak in 2003 highlighted the relationship between SARS-CoV and ACE-2 (angiotensin-converting enzyme 2) receptors in pancreatic islet cells. We describe a pediatric patient who developed Diabetes Mellitus after exposure to the Sars-CoV-2 virus. Case Report: A previously healthy 13-year-old female of Mexican descent was found to be hyperglycemic at her annual visit. The patient endorsed polyuria and polydipsia for 3 weeks, and weight loss for 3months. 3 months prior to presentation, her mother became ill and tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 by PCR analysis. The patient had no SARS-CoV-2 associated symptoms. Her exam was notable for a BMI was in the 78%ile for age with no acanthosis nigricans. She had no family history of diabetes or autoimmune disease. Initial blood glucose was 729 mg/dL, with bicarbonate of 20.6 mEq/L, pH 7.45, and anion gap of 14 mEq/L. Large ketones were present in the urine. Her concomitant C-peptide level of 1.0 ng/ml was low in the setting of hyperglycemia. Her HbA1c was 14.3%. Diabetes-related autoantibodies, celiac, and thyroid antibodies were negative. Her Sars-CoV-2 antibody titer was positive with a negative PCR. The patient was treated with a basal-bolus regimen of subcutaneous insulin at a maximal total daily dose of 0.7 u/kg/day. 5 weeks later, her insulin requirement and HbA1C were both lower; at 0.5 u/kg/day and 9.3% respectively. Discussion: This patient’s symptoms of hyperglycemia started shortly after her exposure to the SARS-CoV-2 virus. She had no features consistent with Type 2 DM. She similarly had no serological evidence of DM related autoimmunity, thus being different from reports of new-onset Type 1 DM with confirmed autoimmunity presenting during the Sars-CoV-2 pandemic. Although Type 1B DM without evidence of humoral islet autoimmunity and monogenic DM could not be fully excluded, we postulate that the patient developed SARS-CoV-2 associated DM given her time course and documented exposure to SARS –CoV-2 with the presence of SARS-CoV antibodies. One similar case has previously been reported By Holstein et al. (1) While we share the lack of direct evidence of causation, we postulate that more patients with similar presentations will be reported during the current pandemic. Reference: 1.Hollstein, T et al. Autoantibody-negative insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus after SARS-CoV-2 infection: a case report [published online ahead of print, 2020 Sep 2]. Nat Metab. 2020;10.1038/s42255-020-00281-8. doi:10.1038/s42255-020-00281-8