Diabetes - a Consequence of COVID-19 Infection

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 infection has shown many complications on all organ systems, including the pancreas, during the acute phase of infection and in the post covid period. OBJECTIVE: Our goal was to compare the frequency of patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes in the Outpatient Clinic “Srce Sarajeva”, in the year before COVID-19, 2019, and during the COVID-19 infection, in 2020 and 2021. Our second goal was to monitor the incidence of diabetes after COVID-19 infection, the time of onset after the acute phase of the disease, and treatment options for individual patients depending on the value of glucose. METHODS: The study was designed as a retrospective-prospective, with the consent of the Director of the Outpatient Clinic “Srce Sarajeva”, and patient consent, in the period of January 2019 to December 2021. The study included 371 patients at the age between 18-70. RESULTS: In 2020 and 2021 there was a significant difference in the number of patient diagnosed with diabetes who came for examination, compared to 2019. The number of new-onset diagnosed patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes was significantly higher in 2020 and 2021 compared to 2019. In 2020, out of five newly discovered type 1, 3 of them, with an average age of 23 (+/- 1-4), overcame COVID-19 infection, and diabetes was detected 3-4 weeks after overcoming COVID-19 infection. Of the 122 type 2 patients, 19 were newly diagnosed, 47 were of average age (+/- 2-6), 13 were COVID-19 infected, and diabetes was detected 4-6 weeks after infection. In 2021, out of 4 newly discovered type 1, 3 of them, with an average age of 22 (+/- 1-2), overcame COVID-19 infection, and diabetes was detected 2-3 weeks after overcoming COVID-19 infection. Of the 114 type 2 patients, 32 were newly diagnosed, 45 were of average age (+/- 2-6), 23 were COVID-19 infected, and diabetes was detected 6-8 weeks after infection. CONCLUSION: COVID-19 infection adversely affects the pancreatic tissue leading to the clinical picture of type 1 and type 2 diabetes, and all patients, especially those at high risk of developing the disease suggest blood sugar testing, 3-4 weeks after the acute phase of the disease, and earlier if they were on corticosteroid therapy.