Can COVID trigger type 1 diabetes?

Although the COVID-19 virus hit the U.S. in early 2020, research on the effects of COVID continues to grow. According to a research study published in the journal ImmunoInformatics by the University of Utah, there may be a connection between COVID and type 1 diabetes (T1D). T1D occurs when insulin-producing cells are attacked by the immune system, resulting in the body being unable to regulate blood sugar levels. Although the cause of T1D is still unknown, scientists believe that an infection could be the reason T1D manifests, and COVID-19 may be one of the infections that play a role in triggering T1D.

Researchers at the University of Utah believe that COVID-19 may trigger T1D in genetically predisposed individuals through a process called molecular mimicry. This occurs when fragments of the COVID virus resemble beta cells (which produce insulin in the body), causing the immune system to mistakenly attack the patient's beta cells. During the destruction of beta cells, intracellular proteins and molecules are also released into the body. Because these intracellular proteins are not typically found in the bloodstream, they are marked as foreign or antigens by the immune system, causing a further immune reaction.

Lead researcher Julio Facelli, Ph.D., emphasizes that not everyone who had COVID will develop T1D; only those with a genetic susceptibility are at risk. Even then, not all will develop the autoimmune disease. One past study found that 20–25% of genetically predisposed people may never have T1D, regardless of COVID exposure.

Post-pandemic studies from 2022 and 2024 show a rise in new T1D diagnoses. One study found that the incidence rate of T1D increased by 53% from 2018-19 to 2020-21, increasing from 19.5 per 100,000 people to 29.9 per 100,000 people. Moreover, the incidence rate of T1D in the same quarter as a Covid diagnosis was significantly elevated at 55.2 per 100,000 persons. However, it's unclear how many T1D diagnoses are directly linked to COVID, since many viruses, including measles and rotavirus, can also trigger autoimmune responses that lead to T1D. Further research is ongoing to better understand the link between COVID-19 and T1D development.

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