Covid-19 with those who did not. "Our nationwide study suggests a possible association between Covid-19 and new-onset type 1 diabetes", says Dr Hanne Lovdal Gulseth, lead author and Research Director at the Norwegian Institute of Public Health. "However, the absolute risk of developing type 1 diabetes increased from 0.08% to 0.13%, and is still low.
The vast majority of young people who get COVID-19 will not go on to develop type 1 diabetes but it is important that clinicians and parents are aware of the signs and symptoms of type 1 diabetes.
Constant thirst, frequent urination, extreme fatigue and unexpected weight loss are tell-tale symptoms." It has long been suspected that type 1 diabetes, which is usually diagnosed in younger people and is associated with the failure of the pancreas to produce insulin, is a result of an over-responsive immune reaction, possible due to a viral infection, including respiratory viruses.
Several recent case reports have suggested a link between new onset type 1 diabetes and SARS-CoV-2 infection in adults. But evidence is more limited in children.