COVID-19 & Diabetes: What We Know So Far | A Scientific Study
Scientific studies updated in 2025 and 2026 reinforce that COVID-19 and diabetes have a complex, "bidirectional" relationship. Not only does pre-existing diabetes significantly worsen COVID-19 outcomes, but the virus itself is now confirmed to increase the risk of new-onset diabetes. 1. Impact of Pre-existing Diabetes on COVID-19Higher Mortality & Severity: Patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) face a 3.6-fold higher likelihood of hospitalization and are approximately 2.3 times more at risk of death than those without the condition. Increased Complications: Diabetes is one of the strongest predictors for severe illness, including acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), the need for mechanical ventilation, and multi-organ failure. Immune Dysfunction: Chronic hyperglycemia impairs the body's innate immune response, slowing viral clearance and making patients more susceptible to a "cytokine storm"—a life-threatening overreaction of the immune system. 2. COV...