Study Links COVID-19 in Kids to Increased Type 2 Diabetes Risk

Research indicates children who had COVID-19 are more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes than those with other respiratory illnesses.

A study published in JAMA Network Open found children who had COVID-19 were 50% more likely to be diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes within six months compared to those with other respiratory infections.
Obese children with a history of COVID-19 showed a 100% increased risk of Type 2 diabetes compared to their peers with other respiratory illnesses.
The research analyzed electronic health records of over 600,000 children aged 10 to 19 from January 2020 to December 2022.
Experts emphasize the importance of monitoring children's health post-COVID-19, particularly for those with existing risk factors like obesity or hospitalization during the illness.
Further investigation is needed to understand the long-term effects of COVID-19 on diabetes risk, and the role of vaccinations in mitigating these risks remains unclear.