An overseas survey showed that the number of children and adolescents with type 2 diabetes has increased rapidly since the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) spread. The research team cited environmental changes in which physical activities have decreased due to COVID-19, such as non-face-to-face classes, as the biggest reason.
On the 25th, a joint research team, including Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and Colorado University School of Medicine, announced that the number of children and adolescents with type 2 diabetes increased by about 77% at 24 medical centers in the U.S. during the COVID-19 period.
The research team examined the incidence of type 2 diabetes in children and adolescents aged 8 to 21 years old reported at 24 medical institutions in the United States for three years from March 2018 to February 2020 and the first year of the COVID-19 epidemic.
Since then, out of the total 3,459 reported patients, 3,113 patients were compared by year, excluding 346 who were inappropriate for the criteria.
As a result of the analysis, the average number of children and adolescents with type 2 diabetes in the two years before the COVID-19 epidemic was 825. On the other hand, the number of patients reported in the first year of COVID-19 was 1,463, an increase of 77.3% compared to the average number of patients in the previous two years.
However, the research team concluded that it was unclear whether the COVID-19 virus itself increased the incidence of diabetes.
Rather, it is highly likely that "environmental factors" such as non-face-to-face classes, suspension of sports activities, and school closures, which began with the COVID-19 epidemic, have played a greater role. This is because physical activity loss and weight gain are major risk factors for type 2 diabetes.
In fact, compared to before COVID-19, the level of glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), an indicator of patients' body mass index (BMI) and blood sugar level, increased. This is in line with a domestic study that announced that obesity indicators for children and adolescents have worsened since school was suspended due to COVID-19 last year.
The research team said, "With COVID-19, children and adolescents have reduced their physical activity and spent much more time at home watching TV or using other electronic devices such as games."
In addition, cases of type 2 diabetes in white children and adolescents decreased, but the incidence rate in Hispanic and black children and adolescents doubled. The research team said, "The onset of type 2 diabetes disproportionately affects socioeconomic conditions. He said, "The gap seems to have widened due to COVID-19."
Diabetes includes type 1 that controls glucose concentration in the body, and type 2 that cannot control blood sugar even if insulin is produced.
Our cells use glucose (blood sugar) in our blood as an energy source. Insulin helps cells use blood sugar as an energy source and lowers blood sugar. At this time, if insulin sensitivity decreases, the effect of reducing blood sugar with the same amount of insulin may decrease, causing type 2 diabetes.
If not treated in time, heart disease, nerve and kidney damage, vision impairment, or other organ damage can occur. In addition, children and adolescents with diabetes have a higher risk of complications than adult diabetes patients.
After COVID-19, the severity of diabetes patients in children and adolescents became worse. Before the COVID-19 epidemic, the majority of patients diagnosed with diabetes in outpatient clinics accounted for 57%, but more than half of the patients were diagnosed with diabetes in hospital after COVID-19.
In addition, according to the research team, 21% of patients newly diagnosed with diabetes suffered metabolic disorders. This is a significant increase compared to 9% reported before COVID-19. In severe cases, metabolic disorders can lead to vomiting, coma, (mental) confusion, and shortness of breath.
We have started a nationwide analysis of the patients to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 on the outbreak of type 2 diabetes patients, said Sheila Marge, director of the Children's Center at Johns Hopkins University Hospital. "Now is the time to focus on exercise and a healthy diet for children."
Lisa Wolf, professor of pediatrics at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, said, "Patients should be identified early so that they can intervene in treatment and prevent complications. It is necessary for parents to consult with their doctors about their children's weight gain.
Writer: Yeyoung Jeon
(Picture from Unsplash)
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