A new study involving over 38,000 children and teens validated researchers' suspicions that the COVID-19 pandemic led to an increase in type 1 diabetes cases among the youth.
Initially, the virus was considered the likely cause, but subsequent discoveries challenge this assumption. Despite the enigma surrounding the root cause of type 1 diabetes, these findings present fresh avenues for researchers to investigate.
Type 1 Diabetes Cases in Children, Teens Increased During COVID-19 Pandemic
Type 1 Diabetes Incidence During the COVId-19 Pandemic
The study, titled "Incidence of Diabetes in Children and Adolescents During the COVID-19 Pandemic" published on June 30 in the JAMA Network Open,analyzed data from 17 previous studies, revealing a 14% higher incidence of type 1 diabetes in children and teenagers during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic compared to the previous year.
The second year of the pandemic saw an even greater increase, up 27% from 2019. This surge was unexpected, as prior to COVID-19, type 1 diabetes in children had been rising steadily at a rate of around 2-4% annually.
In 2020, researchers initially considered a possible connection between COVID-19 and the increase in type 1 diabetes cases due to the observation of rising cases in various countries during the early months of the pandemic. However, investigations did not find compelling evidence that the SARS-CoV-2 virus triggered the surge or significantly harmed pancreatic cells.
As per the news release via Nature, The meta-analysis by Rayzel Shulman and her colleagues focused on studies with at least 12 months of data before and during the pandemic, confirming the rise in type 1 diabetes cases among children and adolescents during the pandemic's first two years.
Moreover, they observed a disruption in the seasonal patterns of childhood type 1 diabetes, with higher rates of new cases occurring outside of the usual winter peaks.
The study also highlighted that children diagnosed with type 1 diabetes during the pandemic tended to have more severe forms of the disease, with a 26% increase in cases of diabetic ketoacidosis, a potentially life-threatening complication. This was attributed to people being hesitant or unable to seek emergency care when early symptoms appeared.
The findings underscore the need for continued research to fully understand the link between COVID-19 and type 1 diabetes, as well as the impact of the pandemic on healthcare-seeking behaviors and the management of chronic conditions.
READ ALSO: Some COVID-19 Patients Without Diabetes Have Symptoms of High Blood Sugar
Reason for Increased Type 1 Diabetes Remains Unknown
According to Mayo Clinic, Type 1 diabetes is a chronic condition where the pancreas produces little or no insulin, leading to high blood sugar levels. It can be caused by various factors, including genetics and viruses, and can develop in both children and adults.
Unfortunately, there is currently no cure for type 1 diabetes, and treatment focuses on managing blood sugar levels through insulin, diet, and lifestyle adjustments
As for the increased prevalence of Type 1 diabetes among children and teens during the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers noted that its cause remains unknown until today and it is unclear how long the trend might continue. They recommend longitudinal studies to be conducted to determine whether the incidence will plateau, fall, or increase.
On the other hand, Nature reported that some researchers do not believe in the study's findings. Some question the plausibility of such a significant rise in just one year, while others doubt that the virus directly damages pancreatic cells.
As the underlying causes remain uncertain, researchers are investigating other factors, including the potential role of autoimmune responses triggered by COVID-19 infections and lifestyle changes such as diet and obesity. The pandemic may have accelerated the onset of type 1 diabetes in at-risk children or led to an increase in autoimmunity among youths.
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