PSUN257 Acute Onset Diabetes and GAD Antibody Positivity After COVID-19

BACKGROUND: Viral infections can trigger the development of auto-antibodies including against the pancreas (1). The Sars-CoV2 virus can infect the pancreas (2). Limited data exist linking COVID-19 infection and the development of islet related auto-antibodies and diabetes in adults. CASE: A 46-year-old healthy man (BMI 24.7kg/m(2)) developed upper respiratory symptoms in mid-July 2021. He did not have a family or personal history of autoimmune diseases. His mother has mild type 2 diabetes mellitus. He underwent Sars-CoV-2 testing in July which was positive. In August, upper respiratory symptoms resolved, however, he developed acute onset polyuria, polydipsia, fatigue, and weight loss. He lost 12.7kg within one month. On his own, he noticed that he felt worse after eating carbohydrates and modified his eating (limiting to 20g of carbohydrates per meal), which reduced his polyuria, polydipsia, and weight loss. In September, he presented to his primary care physician who diagnosed him with hyperglycemia and diabetes. Fasting blood glucose was 331mg/dL (18.4mmol/L) and hemoglobin A1C was 11.3%. He presented to endocrinology clinic in October for evaluation and was started on insulin therapy for diabetes. Laboratory studies included: glucose 194mg/dL (10.8mmol/L), repeat hemoglobin A1C 10.1%. Autoantibody testing was positive for GAD65 (glutamic acid decarboxylase 65 antibody 34.4nmol/L, reference <0.02nmol/L). Other type 1 diabetes related autoantibodies were negative. Blood glucose normalized on insulin therapy (average 115mg/dL (6.4mmol/L) on continuous glucose monitor). Op de Beeck, Anne and Decio L. Eizirik, Nature Reviews, May 2016.Muller, J, et al. Nature Metabolism, Feb 2021. Presentation: Sunday, June 12, 2022 12:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.