Endocrinologist Shokur: patients with COVID-19 increase the risk of diabetes from RIA Novosti she said that the risk of infection and severe course of COVID-19 increases in patients with chronic diseases, including diabetes.
At the same time, the doctor warned that the results of recent clinical studies showed that this association also has the opposite nature: COVID-19 can provoke the development of diabetes mellitus. “The fact is that the SARS-Cov-2 virus binds to the ACE-2 (angiotensin-converting enzyme-2) receptors, which are present not only in the lungs, liver, kidneys and small intestine, but also in the pancreas, to enter the body,” – she explained.
In this regard, the beta cells of the pancreas, which produce insulin and are responsible for lowering blood glucose levels, become target cells for the virus and are subject to destruction. “The greater the degree of damage, the higher the likelihood of developing diabetes mellitus,” the specialist said.
Also, according to her, the condition caused by the coronavirus is accompanied by the development of inflammation, which is enhanced by the production of reactive oxygen species. As a result, this leads to the fact that the main mechanism for the development of type II diabetes mellitus is triggered: tissue sensitivity to insulin decreases and insulin resistance increases.
“In addition, the side effects of many antiviral and hormonal drugs for the treatment of coronavirus infection are associated with an increase in blood glucose, “concluded Shokur.
Previously, scientists from the California National Primate Research Center (USA) and the Rotman Research Institute in Toronto (Canada) reported on how the coronavirus (SARS-CoV- 2) affects the human brain. Experts have found that when it enters the brain through the nose, the coronavirus causes symptoms such as memory problems, impaired coordination and “fog in the head” in people who have had it.