SALT LAKE CITY — Doctors at Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital are seeing an increase in children with diabetes.

Could this be caused from COVID-19?

That’s a question they’re trying to better understand.

“We saw a significant increase in the number of children with diabetes in 2021 compared to previous years,” said Dr. Vandana “Vana” Raman, division chief of pediatric endocrinology and diabetes at University of Utah Health and Primary Children’s. “In 2020, we had about 305 new cases of diabetes. In 2021, that number went up 25% to 385 and we’re not entirely sure why. That’s why we think it might be related to COVID-19. Although we’re not 100% sure, the numbers are quite surprising to us. Nothing else has changed except for the fact that we’re in a pandemic.”

Dr. Allison Smego, pediatric endocrinologist at U of U Health and Primary Children’s, said there have been a number of different studies looking at increases in diabetes Type 1 and 2 in children under the age of 18 across the country.

“The (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) actually did a study that showed children with new onset of diabetes had recently been infected with COVID-19,” Smego said. “The data is very interesting, but there’s still a lot to be learned.”

The CDC study found children who were infected with the virus were 30% to 150% more likely to develop diabetes. Even mild cases of COVID-19, it said, can increase the chance of developing diabetes.

Smego said because COVID-19 causes inflammation in the body, it can trigger hyperglycemia, or high blood sugar, which, if the numbers are high enough — anything over 200 milligrams per deciliter — can turn into diabetes.

Type 1 diabetes occurs when the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin, which is the hormone responsible for regulating blood sugar levels in the blood. Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body either doesn’t make enough insulin or doesn’t use insulin efficiently. Both physicians said they have seen more cases of Type 1 diabetes since 2021.

Symptoms of diabetes in children can include increased thirst, frequent urination, weight loss despite a ravenous appetite, nausea, fatigue, abdominal pain, vision problems, sores that are slow to heal, mood changes and weakness.

The disease is treatable, although not fun, Smego said.

“We want kids to live a healthy life when they have Type 1 diabetes, but we’re talking about four to six shots of insulin per day and constant blood sugar monitoring,” she said. “It’s a complex disease, but they can live very healthy lives with it.”

Not only could COVID-19 have a possible link to diabetes, but those who already have diabetes are at an increase for complications from the virus.

“If you have diabetes, you are more likely to get sicker from COVID,” Smego said. “So you have to be vigilant. We have vaccines now and they have been proven to be effective in children, so we encourage everyone to get the vaccine and boosted when approved because we know they can prevent severe illness from COVID.”

Raman said instead of looking at political angles, she encourages people to look at the science.

“It’s highly unfortunate that this has been politicized, when there are clear signs of evidence that something is so beneficial,” she said. “People should believe the science. Look at the studies and let the data speak for itself. Look at scientific journals rather than opinions.”

Raman said the hospitals have been approved to participate in a COVID-19 database study that will continue to look at the possible link between the virus and diabetes in children.

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