Coronavirus attacks pancreatic cells and causes diabetes
New data indicate that the emerging coronavirus, "SARS-Cove-2", which causes Covid-19 disease, may attack beta cells in the pancreas responsible for producing the hormone insulin; Which leads to diabetes.
A report was published in the journal Nature Metabolism by researchers, including Tim Holstein and Dominic. M Schulte, from the Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Clinical Nutrition at the University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany. The report spoke of a case of a young man who developed insulin-dependent type 1 diabetes after being infected with the emerging coronavirus.
Type 1 diabetes is also called insulin-dependent diabetes and juvenile diabetes. It is an autoimmune disease in which the body's immune system attacks and destroys the beta cells in the pancreas, which leads to a gradual decrease in the amounts of insulin secreted by the pancreas.
The disease develops before the age of 35, and those affected are usually between 10 and 16 years. And it constitutes 5% to 10% of the percentage of people with diabetes.
Treatment of type 1 diabetes requires the patient to be given insulin by injection or by pump, leading to a decrease in blood glucose and control.
Diabetic ketoacidosis
A 19-year-old male came to the emergency department with diabetic ketoacidosis and had a blood glucose level of 552 milligrams per deciliter. The young man's medical history revealed a possible infection with Covid-19 5-7 weeks ago, based on a positive test for antibodies against the proteins of the emerging coronavirus, "SARS-Cove-2".
The normal range for fasting glucose (blood glucose level measured after 8 hours of fasting) is less than 100 milligrams per deciliter.
Diabetic ketoacidosis is a serious complication of diabetes, and it occurs when the body produces high levels of blood acids called ketones, according to the Mayo Clinic website.
The condition develops when the body cannot produce enough insulin, and without enough insulin, the body begins to break down fats as a fuel source. This process produces a buildup of acids in the bloodstream, called ketones, leading to diabetic ketoacidosis. And diabetic ketoacidosis can be fatal if not treated.
"Although our report cannot fully establish a causal relationship between COVID-19 and the development of diabetes in this patient, given the circumstances of this case, we suggest that SARS-CoV-2 infection may adversely affect pancreatic function and function," the researchers said. Possibly through the direct hemolytic effects of the virus on beta (insulin-producing) cells.
They added that there is evidence that the emerging coronavirus may change the function of pancreatic cells and impair insulin secretion. Several recently published studies indicate a link between COVID-19 and diabetes; For example, acute hyperglycemia was observed in a large number of individuals infected with the emerging coronavirus, regardless of any previous medical history of diabetes.
Strong chemical agitation
The researchers also said a significant increase in diabetic ketoacidosis in German children and adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic, indicating a link between COVID-19 and the new type 1 diabetes.
The researchers added that SARS-Cove-2 infection of cells in the pancreas led to a "robust chemokine induction," as seen in Covid-19 patients with signs of cell death.
They said that their report has limitations, and it does not prove the missing causal relationship between the emerging coronavirus infection and type 1 diabetes. Therefore, it is necessary to conduct future studies to investigate the toxic effects of the emerging coronavirus on pancreatic cells.
They concluded by saying, "Our report indicates that diabetologists should be aware of the possibility of developing insulin-dependent diabetes as an acute complication in patients infected with the emerging coronavirus."
Top 9 Early Warning Signs That You Have Diabetes
- Diabetes (diabetes mellitus) is described as a serious disease if it is not controlled. Th. Therefore be recognized early, and there are early symptoms that may indicate diabetes or other health problems. To be. Ton some or all of them appear, you must consult your doctor immediately to do the necessary tests.
These are the early symptoms of diabetes:
- frequent urination
- Feeling very thirsty
- Feeling very hungry even though the person is eating as usual.
- extreme tiredness
- blurry vision
- Delayed wound healing
- Delayed bruise recovery
- Weight loss Although a person eats more, this symptom indicates type 1 diabetes.
- Tingling, pain, or numbness in the hands and feet.
Can symptoms appear suddenly?
In people with type 1 diabetes, the onset of symptoms can be very sudden. In contrast, in type 2 diabetes, symptoms tend to appear gradually, and sometimes there are no signs at all, according to the American Diabetes Association.
Diabetes is a metabolic disease (a metabolic disorder) caused by a deficiency of the hormone insulin (insulin) or the poor response of the body's cells to this hormone, which introduces sugar in the blood (glucose) into the cells, resulting in high levels of glucose in the blood above the normal limit.
Insulin is a hormone made by pancreatic beta cells that release insulin into the bloodstream after eating due to high blood sugar.
Types of diabetes
Type 1 diabetes mellitus (Diabetes Mellitus type 1)
It is also called insulin-dependent diabetes and juvenile diabetes. It is an autoimmune disease in which the body's immune system attacks and destroys beta cells in the pancreas, leading to a gradual decrease in insulin's amounts secreted by the pancreas.
This processdestruction process takes months or years, and eventually, the amount of insulin becomes too low, leadinghigh blood glucose and symptoms of diabetes.
The disease develops before the age of 35, and the age of those affected is usually between 10 and 16 years, and it constitutes 5 to 10% of the percentage of people with diabetes.
Treatment of type 1 diabetes requires the patient to be given insulin by injection or by pump, leading to a decrease in blood glucose and control.
Type 2 diabetes mellitus (Diabetes Mellitus type 2)
It is called non-insulin-dependent diabetes and adult diabetes, in which the sensitivity of cells to insulin decreases, i.e., the degree of response of body cells to it decreases.
Those with this type are usually obese. Therefore, weight reduction and dietary modification are the first mechanisms of treatment, in addition to medications, some of which stimulate insulin secretion from the pancreas. Some of them increase the sensitivity of cells to the hormone.
This type usually affects people over the age of 40 and makes up 90% of people with diabetes, and genetics contributes to it more than type 1 diabetes. Obesity is one of the most important factors in its incidence.
However, if a person with diabetes does not respond to the required changes in food and movement or glucose levels remain high, this may exacerbate the disease, prompting the doctor to move to insulin injection therapy in later stages.
What are the symptoms of type 1 diabetes in an infant or child?
- urinating frequently
- Drink plenty of water
- Weight loss
- Tired
The child may have been trained to go to the bathroom, not wet his bed at night, and become wet because he urinates a large amount and cannot control it.
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