Study: mild COVID might increase risk of diabetes

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY/CNN) - A study shows a link between people with mild COVID-19 could have an increased risk of diabetes.

Researchers examined just about 36,000 people who had the virus and didn't need care from a hospital.

Their cases took place between March 2020 and Jan. 2021—prior to the omicron variant.

When their cases were compared to those who never contracted COVID, researchers found they were 28% more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes.

This could be due to the damage the virus causes to beta cells in the pancreas.

These cells are what's responsible for why humans don't develop diabetes since they release insulin.

The study didn't include body mass index as a factor although it's widely known to be a risk factor for diabetes.

COVID infections that resulted in hospitalizations were also not included in the study.

Those specific cases were formerly linked to higher chances of diabetes.