Covid-19 driven factors led to surge in early onset of diabetes, finds study

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If not managed on time, diabetes can prove to be silent killer for many. As World Diabetes Day was observed on November 14, a study found that the Covid-19 pandemic has not only reshaped daily routines but also accelerated trends in diabetes and metabolic health causing alarming changes in disease onset age, weight gain and associated complications such as liver and kidney issues.

Dr. Rajiv Kovil's clinics in Mumbai conducted a comparative analysis of patient profiles pre-pandemic (March 24, 2016 - March 23, 2020) and post-pandemic (March 24, 2020 - March 23, 2024) revealing alarming changes in disease patterns.

Dr. Rajiv Kovil, Head of Diabetology, Zandra Healthcare and Co-founder of Rang De Neela Initiative, said, "One of the most significant shifts has been in the age of type 2 diabetes onset. The average age dropped from 47 years pre-pandemic to 42 years post-pandemic, with a growing number of diagnoses now occurring in individuals in their late 20s and 30s. Weight gain among newly diagnosed has also surged, with average weights rising from 75 kg to 84 kg for men and from 61 kg to 69 kg for women. In particular, women have shown a concerning increase in body fat composition, with an average of 42 per cent compared to 36 per cent in men, largely driven by visceral fat - a key risk factor for metabolic complications."

"Post-pandemic, the majority of newly diagnosed diabetes cases exhibit complex metabolic disorders. Over 95 per cent of new patients have dyslipidemia, and hypertension at diagnosis has climbed to 30 per cent from the previous 19 per cent," he revealed.

"Indicators of chronic kidney disease, such as elevated uric acid and proteinuria, now affect 18 per cent of new patients, up from 12 per cent pre-pandemic," he further highlighted.

Lifestyle parameters highlight behavioural shifts that exacerbate these health issues. "Dietary recall among newly diagnosed patients shows a jump in the frequency of outside meals, from twice weekly pre-pandemic to six times weekly post-pandemic. Self-reported sleep duration has also dropped, from an average of 7.5 hours per night to 6.8 hours, suggesting an increase in stress and disrupted sleep patterns that can worsen diabetes risk factors. These findings emphasise the urgent need for public health interventions targeting lifestyle management and early metabolic screening to address the rising tide of diabetes and its complications in younger populations," concluded Dr. Kovil.

Further explaining how Covid-19 could have caused these changes, Dr. Aarti Ullal, Physician and Diabetologist, Gleneagles Hospital, Parel, said, "Covid-19 infection may directly lead to new-onset diabetes in some patients, possibly due to the virus' effect on pancreatic cells. The pandemic also led to lifestyle changes for many people, including reduced physical activity due to lockdowns and gym closures, and increased consumption of sugary, oily and fried food leading to insulin resistance and weight gain raising the chances of diabetes. Increased stress levels, can affect blood sugar regulation. Many people postponed routine health check-ups during the pandemic, leading to delayed diabetes diagnoses. Some patients experiencing long Covid symptoms have shown signs of metabolic changes that could increase diabetes risk."

"It is the need of the hour for those with diabetes to eat a nutritious diet, exercise daily, check blood sugar levels take medication as recommended by the doctor, and maintain an optimum weight," she added.

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