Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Study: Covid-19 may accelerate type 1 diabetes symptoms in children

Symptoms of type 1 diabetes can include unusual thirst and hunger, along with frequent urination, fatigue and blurred vision.

Study: Covid-19 may accelerate type 1 diabetes symptoms in children

CONTRACTING Covid-19 may accelerate the onset of visible symptoms of type 1 diabetes in children, an autoimmune condition, according to a study published in The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).

Researchers found that children infected with the virus and in the early stages of type 1 diabetes without displaying symptoms, progressed more rapidly to a clinical onset of the autoimmune disorder.


Symptoms of type 1 diabetes can include unusual thirst and hunger, along with frequent urination, fatigue and blurred vision. Treatment typically involves insulin therapy, requiring regular injections through the day.

In an autoimmune disorder, the body's immune system attacks the healthy cells and organs, instead of protecting it against foreign disease-causing agents.

Previous studies have found elevated levels of islet autoantibodies in children infected with Covid-19. Produced when insulin-producing cells in the pancreas are damaged, these autoantibodies from one's blood samples can help in diagnosing type 1 diabetes.

In this study, the researchers, including those from the Institute of Diabetes Research, Helmholtz Munich, Germany, found that children who already had islet autoantibodies (early stages of type 1 diabetes) developed diagnosable symptoms of the condition at a faster rate after a Covid-19 infection, compared to those not infected.

From the start of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 until 2023, children participating in the Fr1da study (for type 1 diabetes) were tested for antibodies produced in response to Covid-19, along with islet autoantibodies.

The researchers thus had "valuable data" on the association between the SARS-CoV-2 virus and type 1 diabetes.

They showed that cases of type 1 diabetes diagnoses among children in early stages of the disease increased at a higher rate during the pandemic, compared to that pre-pandemic.

(PTI)

More For You

Amycretin

'The Lancet' and presentations at the American Diabetes Association’s 2025

iStock

New weight-loss pill Amycretin shows greater impact than jabs, study finds

A new weight-loss drug, amycretin, has delivered the most significant results yet for appetite-suppressing GLP-1 medications, according to two newly published studies in The Lancet and presentations at the American Diabetes Association’s 2025 Scientific Sessions in Chicago.

Record weight loss from Amycretin injections

Researchers found that participants receiving high-dose weekly injections of amycretin lost 24.3 per cent of their body weight over 36 weeks. This outcome surpasses the results seen in longer trials involving other GLP-1 drugs such as tirzepatide (sold as Mounjaro), which previously led the field with an average weight loss of 20 per cent over 72 weeks.

Keep ReadingShow less
Asian representation Parkinson’s awareness

Organisations like Parkinson’s UK are so vital.

Instagram/ itsmitamistry

Joining the movement: Championing Asian representation and Parkinson’s awareness through sport

Mita Mistry

I recently joined the incredible team at the Asian Sports Foundation. It is an honour to work alongside passionate individuals such as Shazia Ali, Harleen Kaur and Angus Martin. Since it was founded by Jug Johal, the Asian Sports Foundation has worked to transform inactivity into active living, promoting better wellbeing and greater representation of Asian communities in sport and physical activity.

This is a cause close to my heart. The undeniable power of sport and movement to improve both physical and mental health cannot be overstated. It is a message I have consistently championed, alongside a commitment to equity and inclusion, which is why I am so excited to contribute to a charity that truly embodies this ethos.

Keep ReadingShow less
Bollyday

Bollyday has rewritten the rulebook on clubbing – and frankly, it feels long overdue.

Bollyday brings Bollywood sparkle to daytime clubbing and it’s a five-star game-changer

Whoever said you need moonlight to find magic clearly has not stepped onto the spectacular, LED-lit dance floor at this daytime Bollywood bonanza.

From the moment the doors opened at Popworld in London, Bollyday fizzed with the kind of unfiltered joy usually reserved for weddings or late-night parties – except here, you still get home in time for a proper night’s sleep (and Sunday roast prep).

Keep ReadingShow less
Labubu

Its appeal lies in its unpredictability, emotional expressiveness, and the thrill of collecting

Getty Images

Labubu’s unlikely rise from quirky Chinese toy to global phenomenon

A mischievous elf-like toy called Labubu has gone from niche collectable to global cultural phenomenon. Created by Hong Kong-born artist Kasing Lung and popularised by Chinese toy giant Pop Mart, Labubu has captured the imaginations of collectors from Beijing to London and beyond, with celebrity endorsements and long queues at retail stores fuelling its rapid rise.

The birth of Labubu

Labubu originated as a character in The Monsters, a picture book series by Lung. With its signature wide eyes, pointed ears and toothy grin, the figure was designed to be kind-hearted yet chaotic, charming in a deliberately imperfect way. The name “Labubu” itself doesn’t mean anything; it was invented for the character.

Keep ReadingShow less
Hulk Hogan

Hogan’s current hospital stay follows a neck fusion surgery he underwent in May 2025

Getty Images

Hulk Hogan hospitalised for back and neck issues, rep confirms he is not on deathbed

WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan has been hospitalised for ongoing neck and back issues, but representatives have confirmed he is not in critical condition, dismissing online speculation suggesting otherwise.

The 71-year-old wrestling icon, whose real name is Terry Bollea, was reported by TMZ Sports to be undergoing treatment related to injuries sustained during his decades-long in-ring career. His representative said Hogan is already mobile again and “not on his deathbed”, following false claims made on air by Florida radio personality Bubba the Love Sponge.

Keep ReadingShow less