NEW DELHI: Individuals diagnosed with diabetes during Covid in India were found to have severe condition with worse indicators of glycemia or high sugar level in blood, as compared to those detected with diabetes in pre-Covid times, shows a first of its kind study which looked at new onset diabetes during the pandemic in the country.
Researchers say this could be due to lifestyle factors and delayed diagnosis rather than a direct effect of the virus. Findings of the study, published recently in ‘Diabetes & Metabolic Syndrome: Clinical Research & Reviews’, show more than 50% of patients diagnosed with diabetes after Covid outbreak reported high stress level, whereas less than 13% had high stress level in pre-Covid times.
“There is the possibility of an increase in various lifestyle-related diseases, including new-onset diabetes during this pandemic period. The adverse lifestyle changes occurring as a result of lockdown might also lead to acceleration of progression from pre-diabetes to diabetes in many individuals,” says the study, conducted by researchers from the National Diabetes, Obesity and Cholesterol Foundation, Diabetes Foundation (India), Fortis CDoc and Dr Mohan’s Diabetes Specialities Centre.
The study analysed data of all adults diagnosed with new onset of Type two diabetes from two tertiary care hospitals for diabetes in Chennai and Delhi between April and October 2020, when the country was mostly under lockdown. Doctors suggest maintaining a healthy lifestyle, particularly exercises, and a controlled diet can help avoid such disorders.
The study also points out at changes in dietary and exercise profiles during the pandemic as a likely reason.