There has been a significant global increase in the diagnosed incidence of type 1 diabetes (T1D) among children and adolescents since the Covid-19 pandemic. During the pandemic, there was a significant strain on health services, which meant the capacity for testing and diagnosing diseases was limited. This created a backlog of cases to be diagnosed once the pandemic was over. However, researchers do not believe this is the sole cause for the increase in incidence, as Covid-19 has been discovered to be a major risk factor for T1D.
Individuals with T1D do not produce enough of a hormone called insulin, which controls blood glucose levels. The condition often arises in childhood but can occur at any age. Typically, children with T1D present with increased fatigue, tiredness, thirst, increased urination, and unexplained weight loss. It is important that T1D is diagnosed promptly, as it can be fatal if it is left untreated. Once diagnosed, individuals will rely on insulin injections to stabilise their blood glucose for the remainder of their lives.
According to the UK’s leading diabetes charity, Diabetes UK, cases of T1D were increasing by approximately 3% each year prior to the pandemic. This number increased significantly to 14% in the first year of the pandemic (2020), followed by a further 27% increase in cases in the second year (2021). Since the acute phase of the pandemic, we have been learning about the various health impacts of Covid-19. There is a significant association between viral infections and T1D development and progression. The significant increase in T1D incidence during the pandemic suggests that infection with Covid-19 may trigger the development of T1D.
An article published in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism in March 2023 by Yichen Wang and colleagues evaluated the mechanisms that could be responsible for stimulating the autoimmune response that triggers T1D after Covid-19 infection. Virus-induced β-cell damage, immune-mediated loss of pancreatic β cells, and damage to β cells from the infection of surrounding cells were considered possible mechanisms that could lead to T1D. However, given that the development of T1D is often a chronic, long-term process, it is currently difficult to draw firm conclusions about whether SARS-CoV-2 causes T1D. More in-depth and comprehensive studies with larger cohorts of patients and long-term clinical follow-ups are essential to understanding if and how the autoimmune mechanisms stimulated by Covid-19 infection are responsible for the surge in T1D incidence.
Initially, GlobalData epidemiologists forecast that there would be 33,100 diagnosed prevalent cases of T1D among children and adolescents (ages 0–19 years) in the UK in 2023, which was expected to increase to 33,800 diagnosed prevalent cases by 2029. However, the initial GlobalData forecast did not anticipate changes in incidence as a consequence of the Covid-19 pandemic. If the incidence continues to increase as it has since the pandemic, it is likely there will be many more cases than initially forecast by 2029.
How well do you really know your competitors?
Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.
Your download email will arrive shortly
Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample
We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below formBy GlobalData
Kuna ongezeko kubwa la kiwango cha ugonjwa wa kisukari wa aina ya 1 (T1D) miongoni mwa watoto na vijana tangu janga la COVID-19. Wakati wa janga hilo, huduma za afya zilikuwa na shinikizo kubwa, ambayo ilimaanisha uwezo wa kupima na kugundua magonjwa ulikuwa mdogo. Hii iliunda backlog ya kesi za kugunduliwa mara tu janga hilo lilipomalizika. Hata hivyo, watafiti hawaamini hii ni sababu pekee ya ongezeko la maambukizi, kwani COVID-19 imegunduliwa kuwa sababu kuu ya hatari ya ugonjwa wa aina ya 1. Watu wenye ugonjwa wa kisukari wa aina ya 1 hawawezi kutengeneza homoni inayoitwa insulini, ambayo huongoza kiwango cha sukari ya damu. Mara nyingi hali hiyo hutokea utotoni lakini yaweza kutokea katika umri wowote. Kwa kawaida, watoto wenye ugonjwa wa kisukari aina ya 1 wanaona uchovu, kiu, kiu, kukosa umajimaji, na kupoteza uzito bila sababu. Ni muhimu kugundua ugonjwa wa aina ya 1 haraka, kwa kuwa unaweza kusababisha kifo ikiwa hautatibiwa. Baada ya kuugua ugonjwa huo, watu hutegemea sindano za insulini ili kudumisha kiwango cha sukari ya damu yao kwa maisha yao yote. Kulingana na shirika la kutoa misaada la Uingereza la Diabetes UK, visa vya ugonjwa wa kisukari wa aina ya 1 vilikuwa vikiongezeka kwa karibu asilimia 3 kila mwaka kabla ya janga hilo. Idadi hiyo iliongezeka kwa asilimia 14 katika mwaka wa kwanza wa janga hilo, ikifuatiwa na ongezeko la asilimia 27 katika mwaka wa pili. Tangu hatua ya mkali ya janga hilo, tumekuwa tukijifunza juu ya athari mbalimbali za afya za COVID-19. Kuna uhusiano mkubwa kati ya maambukizo ya virusi na maendeleo na maendeleo ya T1D. Ongezeko kubwa la maambukizi ya T1D wakati wa janga la COVID-19 linaonyesha kuwa maambukizi ya COVID-19 yanaweza kusababisha maendeleo ya T1D. Makala iliyochapishwa katika Jarida la Endocrinology na Metabolism mnamo Machi 2023 na Yicheng Wang na wenzake ilichunguza taratibu ambazo zinaweza kuwa na jukumu la kuchochea majibu ya autoimmune ambayo husababisha T1D baada ya maambukizi ya COVID-19. Uharibifu wa seli za β unaosababishwa na virusi, hasara ya seli za β za kongosho zinazosababishwa na kinga, na uharibifu wa seli za β kutokana na maambukizi ya seli za karibu, zilionwa kuwa utaratibu unaowezekana ambao unaweza kusababisha ugonjwa wa ugonjwa wa aina ya 1. Hata hivyo, kwa kuzingatia kwamba maendeleo ya T1D mara nyingi ni mchakato wa muda mrefu, kwa sasa ni vigumu kutoa hitimisho thabiti kuhusu kama SARS-CoV-2 husababisha T1D. """Utafiti wa kina na wa kina na makundi makubwa ya wagonjwa na ufuatiliaji wa kliniki wa muda mrefu ni muhimu kuelewa ikiwa na jinsi utaratibu wa autoimmune unaosababishwa na maambukizi ya COVID-19 unawajibika kwa kuongezeka kwa maambukizi ya ugonjwa wa ugonjwa wa aina ya 1." Wataalamu wa magonjwa ya kuambukiza wa GlobalData walitabiri kuwa kutakuwa na visa 33,100 vya ugonjwa wa aina ya 1 kati ya watoto na vijana (miaka 0-19) nchini Uingereza mnamo 2023, na inatarajiwa kuongezeka hadi kesi 33,800 za ugonjwa wa kuambukiza ifikapo 2029. Hata hivyo, utabiri wa awali wa GlobalData haukutazamia mabadiliko katika matukio kama matokeo ya janga la COVID-19. Ikiwa idadi ya watu watakaokua itazidi kuongezeka kama ilivyokuwa tangu janga hilo, inawezekana kutakuwa na visa vingi zaidi kuliko ilivyotarajiwa mwanzoni ifikapo mwaka wa 2029. Unawajua vyema kiasi gani washindani wako? Kupata maelezo ya kampuni ya kina zaidi kwenye soko, powered na GlobalData. Kuokoa saa za utafiti. Kupata faida ya ushindani. Barua pepe yako ya kupakua itawasili hivi karibuni Je, uko tayari kununua bado? Download sampuli ya bure Sisi ni uhakika kuhusu ubora wa kipekee wa Profile yetu Kampuni. Hata hivyo, tunataka kufanya uamuzi zaidi manufaa kwa ajili ya biashara yako, hivyo sisi kutoa sampuli bure kwamba unaweza kupakua kwa kuwasilisha fomu hapa chini na GlobalData.