According to a study published in the American Journal of Physiology-Heart and Circulatory Physiology by an Indian-origin researcher, Dr. Dinender Singla, COVID-19 infection can result in long-term health issues for diabetic individuals, including a higher risk for heart diseases.

In his study, Dr. Singla studied the mechanisms and side effects of COVID-19 on patients with high-risk diabetes and the virus’ potential to advance the disease, leading to inflammation and heart failure. The findings of the study revealed that the genetic makeup of patients with diabetes or those predisposed to the disease makes them more susceptible to post-COVID inflammatory conditions.

Based on the results of the study, Dr. Singla stated that COVID-19 can have three major long-term effects on patients. First is a cognitive dysfunction, which can lead to Alzheimer’s disease. Second, the infection can worsen diabetes in pre-diabetic patients or conditions. Third, it can exacerbate complications of diabetes, such as cardiomyopathy or muscle dysfunction.

Additionally, he theorized that diabetic patients infected with COVID-19 may have developed a different cellular composition in their blood compared to diabetic patients who never had COVID. Hence, his next goal is to study the difference in blood composition or variations in cytokines between COVID-infected diabetic individuals and non-COVID-infected diabetic patients. 

(Source: https://theprint.in/health/diabetic-and-suffered-from-covid-19-you-might-be-at-risk-for-heart-failure/1226302/ )