A study of over 1.1 million patients aged 18 years and younger has found a link between Covid-19 and type 1 diabetes diagnoses.
Researchers found that young people who contracted Covid-19 were more prone to developing type 1 diabetes in the six months following their diagnosis.
Families at high risk of developing type 1 diabetes should be alert for symptoms of the condition in their children following Covid, the researchers say.
While it is unclear whether Covid-19 triggers an onset of type 1 diabetes, it was found that under-18s who have had the virus showed a 72 percent increase in new diagnoses of the chronic disease soon after. "Type 1 diabetes is considered an autoimmune disease," said Pamela Davis, corresponding author and Distinguished University Professor and The Arline H.