The Association between SARS-CoV-2 Infection and Diabetic Ketoacidosis in Patients with New-Onset Diabetes: A Retrospective Study from a Diabetic Center in Saudi Arabia

Background: Various reports described new-onset diabetes during or after severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in patients with no previous history of diabetes or glucocorticoid use. Further, SARS-CoV-2 could increase the risk of diabetes, including diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). However, data on the relationship between new-onset diabetes and COVID-19 are still limited in our region. Thus, we aimed in this study to evaluate the association between new-onset diabetes and DKA in patients with COVID-19. Methods: A retrospective, cross-sectional study was conducted at a diabetic center in Jazan province, Saudi Arabia, between 2020 and 2021. Demographic data, COVID-19 status, and DKA incidence were collected and verified manually from diabetic patients’ medical records. Data were analyzed using a t-test and chi-square test. Results: We included 54 diabetic patients diagnosed during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a median age of 17 years. The majority of patients were females (57.4%). About 38.8% were diagnosed with COVID-19, and 16.6% reported having DKA. About 33.3% of the patients who experienced DKA reported being COVID-19-positive. However, only 6% of patients who denied contracting SARS-CoV-2 developed DKA (p-value = 0.020). Conclusions: Patients with newly diagnosed diabetes due to COVID-19 seem at a higher risk of developing DKA. Further epidemiological and molecular studies are required for a better understanding of the correlation between DKA in patients with diabetes and COVID-19.