A new study suggests that children and teenagers who get COVID-19 may be at a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes than those with other respiratory infections.

The study published in JAMA Network Open included more than 614,000 pediatric patients aged 10 to 19 in the US.

Researchers at Case Western Reserve University looked at medical records from January 2020 to December 2022. They compared the rates of new type 2 diabetes diagnoses in children who had COVID-19 with those who had other respiratory infections.

Type 2 diabetes is a chronic condition where the body becomes resistant to insulin (hormone) or does not produce enough insulin, leading to high blood sugar levels. It is often associated with obesity, poor diet and inactivity.

Over time, this can cause serious health complications like heart disease and kidney problems.

What did the study say?

The study results showed that children who had COVID-19 were more likely to develop type 2 diabetes within 1, 3 and 6 months after infection. This higher risk was present regardless of whether the child was hospitalized or not.

The study included both boys and girls, with an average age of 14.9 years, and about half of the participants had COVID-19. The risk of developing type 2 diabetes was found to be particularly high in children who were overweight or obese.

For these children, the risk of type 2 diabetes after COVID-19 was more than double that of those who had other infections.

Researchers believe that several factors may contribute to this increased risk. COVID-19 may put additional stress on the body, especially in children who are already at risk for diabetes.

Some experts also think COVID-19 may affect the pancreas, which plays a key role in insulin production, potentially causing problems with blood sugar control.

Although the overall risk of developing type 2 diabetes after COVID-19 is still relatively low, the study highlights potential long-term health consequences for children.

The costs associated with diabetes are significant, with an estimated $412.9 billion in diabetes-related expenses in the US in 2022.

Children with type 2 diabetes are likely to face more serious disease and complications earlier in life, leading to higher lifetime medical costs.

The researchers also note that while new treatments and interventions for type 2 diabetes, such as weight control, are available, the focus should remain on preventing the disease in vulnerable children.