COVID-19 and Diabetes: What You Need to Know

Published on 16 October 2025 at 15:51

 

    Most of us have either had COVID-19 or know someone who has. Headaches, fatigue, fever, and loss of taste or smell are familiar symptoms. But researchers are finding something new and concerning COVID-19 may increase your risk of developing diabetes.

Early in the pandemic, doctors saw that people with diabetes often had more severe COVID-19 cases. Now, studies suggest the relationship might go both ways. In one New York study of over 3,800 patients, nearly half developed high blood sugar while hospitalized. Another study found that people with COVID-19 were 166% more likely to be diagnosed with diabetes afterward compared to those who never caught the virus.

Why does this happen? Scientists think it comes down to how COVID-19 affects body fat. The virus can infect fat cells and cause inflammation, reducing a hormone called adiponectin that helps your body respond to insulin. Without enough of it, your blood sugar can rise — a pathway that explains the link between COVID-19, obesity, and new-onset diabetes.

What You Can Do:

  1. Know your numbers. Get your blood sugar checked at your next physical, especially if you’ve had COVID-19.
  2. Move more. Even a 20-minute walk after meals helps your body use insulin better.
  3. Eat for energy. Focus on whole foods — proteins, veggies, and fiber-rich carbs.
  4. Stay consistent. Good sleep and stress management help regulate hormones that control blood sugar.
  5. Talk to your doctor. Mention any lingering fatigue or brain fog; these could signal deeper metabolic issues.

Your post-COVID recovery isn’t just about breathing easier — it’s about staying balanced from the inside out.

References:
Lim, S., Bae, J. H., Kwon, H. S., & Nauck, M. A. (2021). COVID-19 and diabetes mellitus: From pathophysiology to clinical management. Nature Reviews Endocrinology, 17(1), 11–30. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41574-020-00435-4

Sen, S., Chakraborty, R., Kalita, P., & Pathak, M. P. (2021). Diabetes mellitus and COVID-19: Understanding the association in light of current evidence. World Journal of Clinical Cases, 9(28), 8327–8339. https://doi.org/10.12998/wjcc.v9.i28.8327

Khunti, K., Del Prato, S., Mathieu, C., Kahn, S. E., Gabbay, R. A., & Buse, J. B. (2021). COVID-19, hyperglycemia, and new-onset diabetes. Diabetes Care, 44(12), 2645–2655. https://doi.org/10.2337/dc21-1318

 

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