Patients with Covid-19 History Contributing towards Burden of New Diabetes Cases- say Experts at Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, New Delhi

• At least 25% of newly reported diabetes cases have a confirmed history of Covid-19, reveals data from OPD cases from past 2 years

12th November 2021, New Delhi – Covid-19 being a viral infection causes various inflammatory reactions. In people with a confirmed history of moderate to severe Covid-19, various recurring and new health ailments have been reported. These include, hypoxia, weakness, weight-loss, hair-loss, myocarditis, thyroid and diabetes (being reported as one of most common diseases). Various global studies have reported the increasing prevalence of newly diagnosed diabetes cases, having a history of Covid-19.

Basis this available insight, Doctors at Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals too have studied this development and noted the same through an exhaustive internal OPD data from past two years. Speaking about the same, Dr. Subhash Kumar Wangnoo, Senior Consultant Endocrinologist and Diabetologist, Apollo Centre for Obesity, Diabetes and Endocrinology, Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, New Delhi said, “Our data from OPDs of last 2 years have shown that in patients who had confirmed Covid-19 infection, nearly 25% were new onset diabetic patients, stress induced hyperglycemia was seen in 10% of patients who had Covid-19 infection. In patients of established diabetes (already diabetic) more than 60% of patients showed worsening of glycemic status, which persisted for more than 3 months.

Diabetes in itself is a pro-inflammatory state posing a risk of an inflammatory response along with Covid-19 which leds to aggravation of blood sugar levels. Those who are known diabetic, Covid-19 caused abnormal values of blood surpass (above the normal range). Use of steroids, due to serious manifestations of Covid-19 in treatment, further worsened the glucose levels in the patients. Stress response due to acute infection like Covid, increases the blood surpass values through Hb1ac, which may be normal. This we term it as new onset of diabetes due to Covid-19.

Untreated high blood sugar from diabetes can have serious health manifestations and cause a damage to nerves, eyes, kidneys, and other organs. Studies have shown that Indians could develop diabetes 15 years prior to the western population. Some of the already existing factors that have been contributing towards a spike in the cases of diabetes are access to calorie dense food, erratic diet patterns and sedentary lifestyle. Hence, for an early and better diagnosis patients who have been administered steroids owing to serious manifestations of Covid-19 are advised to keep a regular check on blood sugar levels post their recovery from the virus. Moreover, with an increasing incidence of diabetes it is highly recommended to live an active lifestyle with healthy eating patterns and take regular preventive health check-ups.

About Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals:

Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, India’s first JCI accredited hospital, is a joint venture between the Government of Delhi and Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Limited. Commissioned in July 1996, it is the third super-specialty tertiary care hospital set up by the Apollo Hospitals Group. Spread over 15 acres, it houses 57 specialties with more than 300 specialists and more than 700 operational beds, 19 operation theatres, 138 ICU beds, round-the-clock pharmacy, NABL accredited laboratories, 24-hour emergency services and an active air ambulance service. Apollo Hospitals Delhi has the leading programme in kidney and liver transplant in the country. The first successful paediatrics and adult liver transplants in India were performed at Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals. The hospital is at the forefront of medical technology and expertise. It provides a complete range of latest diagnostic, medical and surgical facilities for the care of its patients. The Hospital has introduced the most sophisticated imaging technology to India with the introduction of 64 slice CT and 3 Tesla MRI, Novalis Tx and the integrated PET Suite. Indraprastha Apollo has also pioneered the concept of preventive health check programmes and has created a satisfied customer base over decades. The Hospital has been consistently ranked amongst the best 10 hospitals in India by The Week survey for the past few years.

Hospital website – https://delhi.apollohospitals.com/

Twitter: @HospitalsApollo

For more information please contact:

Shrishti Sharma – shrishti.sharma@adfactorspr.com – 9582074003
Anusha Saxena – anusha.saxena@adfactorspr.com – 92058 73422
Rupal Jain – rupal.jain@adfactorspr.com – 8691961361