A new, small study from the UK has linked a rise in cases of type 1 diabetes among children to the coronavirus pandemic, Reuters reports.
- The study said cases of type 1 diabetes in children doubled during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, 30 children had new-onset type 1 diabetes during the pandemic, which is double the cases seen in previous years, Reuters reports.
- The research was only based on a small number of cases, and only five of the children had the coronavirus before getting diabetes, Yahoo! reports. But it is the first to linked COVID-19 with new cases to diabetes.
“Our analysis shows that during the peak of the pandemic the number of new cases of type 1 diabetes in children was unusually high in two of the hospitals (we studied) compared to previous years.” — Karen Logan, who co-led the study, to Reuters.
Other experts said the study “raises concern” and the evidence is “weak,” according to Yahoo!
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But the study’s researchers admitted there needs to be more investigations into the matter before making a definitive claim, per Anadolu Agency.
- “The team recommends a larger analysis to establish whether there is a definitive link between COVID-19 and new-onset type 1 diabetes, and if so whether COVID-19 has any impact on the severity of the disease.”