tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
BMC Endocr Disord
. 2026 Jun 15.
doi: 10.1186/s12902-026-02358-z. Online ahead of print.
COVID-19 infection prior to the onset of type 1 diabetes does not impair beta-cell function: a two-year nationwide follow-up study
Morten Bjerregaard-Andersen[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP], Pernille Emilie Hostrup[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Kristoffer Jensen Kolnes[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Maj Bangshaab[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Alin Razvan Andries[SUP] 6 [/SUP], Jessica Da Silva[SUP] 7 8 [/SUP], Eugenia Carvalho[SUP] 7 8 [/SUP], Troels Krarup Hansen[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Peter Vestergaard[SUP] 9 [/SUP], Flemming Pociot[SUP] 3 10 [/SUP], Kurt Højlund[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Claus Bogh Juhl[SUP] 11 4 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Background: A possible association between infection with the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and type 1 diabetes (T1D) development has been reported. Whether SARS-CoV-2 infection affects beta-cell loss in T1D over time is unknown. We investigated this in adults with new-onset T1D.
Methods: Individuals with new T1D were included from six Danish hospitals between December 2020 and January 2023. Within one month after the diagnosis of T1D, we assessed medical history, previous self-reported COVID-19 infection, COVID-19 vaccination, glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), and SARS-CoV-2 antibodies (Cov2IgG). A mixed-meal tolerance test (MMTT) was performed after overnight fast at baseline, and after 12 and 24 months to assess plasma glucose and C-peptide at 15-60 min intervals for up to 150 min. The main outcome was C-peptide area under curve (AUC[SUB]C-peptide[/SUB]), as a measure of residual beta-cell function, in Cov2IgG negative and positive individuals.
Results: A total of 94 individuals with T1D were included (34% were female) and 90 had available MMTT results. The mean age was 30.9 (SD 10.2) years, the mean HbA1c was 108 ± 25 mmol/mol (12.1 ± 2.29%), at enrolment. 17% were Cov2IgG positive at enrolment, indicating preceding COVID-19. The baseline median AUC[SUB]C-peptide[/SUB] was 652 (25-75%: 458-937) pmol/l for Cov2IgG negative vs. 703 (564-1099) pmol/L for Cov2IgG positive individuals (P = 0.29). After 12 months, (N = 81), the AUC[SUB]C-peptide[/SUB] was 662 (394-892) vs. 594 (532-973) pmol/L in the two groups, respectively (P = 0.57). After 24 months, (N = 47), the AUC[SUB]C-peptide[/SUB] was 452 (244-792) vs. 535 (380-882) pmol/L (P = 0.55). Seroconversion to CoV2IgG positivity did not affect AUC[SUB]C-peptide[/SUB] at 12 months (P = 0.53). Cov2IgG status did not alter HbA1c at baseline or follow-up (P = 0.86).
Conclusions: Among persons with new-onset T1D, 17% were Cov2IgG positive during the pandemic, which was higher than in the Danish background population. Assessed by MMTT, COVID-19 infection prior to T1D development did not affect insulin secretion or glycaemic control.
Clinical trials identifier: NCT04623697 (registered on the 10th of November, 2020).
Keywords: Clinical diabetes; Clinical science; Epidemiology; Islet damage; Prediction of type 1 diabetes.
. 2026 Jun 15.
doi: 10.1186/s12902-026-02358-z. Online ahead of print.
COVID-19 infection prior to the onset of type 1 diabetes does not impair beta-cell function: a two-year nationwide follow-up study
Morten Bjerregaard-Andersen[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP], Pernille Emilie Hostrup[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Kristoffer Jensen Kolnes[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Maj Bangshaab[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Alin Razvan Andries[SUP] 6 [/SUP], Jessica Da Silva[SUP] 7 8 [/SUP], Eugenia Carvalho[SUP] 7 8 [/SUP], Troels Krarup Hansen[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Peter Vestergaard[SUP] 9 [/SUP], Flemming Pociot[SUP] 3 10 [/SUP], Kurt Højlund[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Claus Bogh Juhl[SUP] 11 4 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 42298525
- DOI: 10.1186/s12902-026-02358-z
Background: A possible association between infection with the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and type 1 diabetes (T1D) development has been reported. Whether SARS-CoV-2 infection affects beta-cell loss in T1D over time is unknown. We investigated this in adults with new-onset T1D.
Methods: Individuals with new T1D were included from six Danish hospitals between December 2020 and January 2023. Within one month after the diagnosis of T1D, we assessed medical history, previous self-reported COVID-19 infection, COVID-19 vaccination, glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), and SARS-CoV-2 antibodies (Cov2IgG). A mixed-meal tolerance test (MMTT) was performed after overnight fast at baseline, and after 12 and 24 months to assess plasma glucose and C-peptide at 15-60 min intervals for up to 150 min. The main outcome was C-peptide area under curve (AUC[SUB]C-peptide[/SUB]), as a measure of residual beta-cell function, in Cov2IgG negative and positive individuals.
Results: A total of 94 individuals with T1D were included (34% were female) and 90 had available MMTT results. The mean age was 30.9 (SD 10.2) years, the mean HbA1c was 108 ± 25 mmol/mol (12.1 ± 2.29%), at enrolment. 17% were Cov2IgG positive at enrolment, indicating preceding COVID-19. The baseline median AUC[SUB]C-peptide[/SUB] was 652 (25-75%: 458-937) pmol/l for Cov2IgG negative vs. 703 (564-1099) pmol/L for Cov2IgG positive individuals (P = 0.29). After 12 months, (N = 81), the AUC[SUB]C-peptide[/SUB] was 662 (394-892) vs. 594 (532-973) pmol/L in the two groups, respectively (P = 0.57). After 24 months, (N = 47), the AUC[SUB]C-peptide[/SUB] was 452 (244-792) vs. 535 (380-882) pmol/L (P = 0.55). Seroconversion to CoV2IgG positivity did not affect AUC[SUB]C-peptide[/SUB] at 12 months (P = 0.53). Cov2IgG status did not alter HbA1c at baseline or follow-up (P = 0.86).
Conclusions: Among persons with new-onset T1D, 17% were Cov2IgG positive during the pandemic, which was higher than in the Danish background population. Assessed by MMTT, COVID-19 infection prior to T1D development did not affect insulin secretion or glycaemic control.
Clinical trials identifier: NCT04623697 (registered on the 10th of November, 2020).
Keywords: Clinical diabetes; Clinical science; Epidemiology; Islet damage; Prediction of type 1 diabetes.