The purpose of this research study is to understand the long-term effects of COVID-19 infection on individuals without any prior history of diabetes. This study will look at several measures of diabetes, such as glycemic control (blood glucose/sugar levels), function of beta cells (cells that make insulin to control sugar), insulin secretion and insulin sensitivity (fasting insulin levels).~The following participants will be enrolled: 1) have had COVID-19 infection and were hospitalized and recovered, or 2) have had mild COVID-19 infection and were seen at outpatient clinics or ER and were not required to be hospitalized, or 3) have not had COVID-19 infection but were seen in outpatient clinics or ER during the same time period.~The researchers hope to learn the long-term effects of COVID-19 infection in hospitalized patients. Specifically, they will be focusing on the subsequent development of diabetes and associated metabolic disturbances, such as impaired insulin secretion and insulin resistance. A relationship between COVID-19 and diabetes needs to be investigated.
Hospitalized patients with severe COVID-19 have an increased incidence of insulin resistance, impaired beta cell function, glucose intolerance (prediabetes), and overt type 2 diabetes (T2D) compared to non-hospitalized patients with COVID-19 and COVID-19 negative individuals on long-term follow up.