The Facts
According to a study published in JAMA Network Open Journal on Friday, more children and adolescents were diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes during COVID compared with before the pandemic.
An analysis of about 42 studies — involving more than 100K youth — between January 2020 and March 2023 was carried out by researchers from the University of Toronto using headings and terms related to COVID, diabetes, and diabetic ketoacidosis.
The Spin
Narrative A
Before the pandemic, the incidence rate of childhood Type 1 diabetes was increasing by about 3% a year, which shows the steep rise in childhood diabetes during the pandemic was a direct result of COVID infection. This study adds to the evidence that the coronavirus adversely affected the pancreas, which makes insulin, spiking the children's sugar levels.
Narrative B
The study is not definitive. More research is needed to understand if the steep rise in childhood diabetes was a direct effect of COVID infection as cases of childhood diabetes continue to rise even after normal life has resumed. It's important to know how much of the risk was based on COVID compared to other factors such as obesity, and the complex interactions between these variables.