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After contracting Covid, children are at higher risk of becoming silent killers, scientists warn – as cases of the XEC strain rise

After contracting Covid, children are at higher risk of becoming silent killers, scientists warn – as cases of the XEC strain rise

Children are at a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes after contracting Covid-19 than with any other cold.

The findings come as the UK faces a surge in Covid cases, with one in 10 in England and Wales caused by the new XEC strain.

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Covid put children at higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes than any other diseasePhoto credit: Getty

There is no evidence so far that the strain is more deadly, but data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) shows Covid hospitalizations in England are rising.

Researchers studied more than 600,000 children between the ages of 10 and 19 in the US who had either Covid-19 or another respiratory infection in the first three years of the pandemic.

The risk of a new diagnosis of type 2 diabetes was significantly higher in the Covid-19 group from one month after infection.

The likelihood of a diagnosis was about 50 percent higher one to three months after infection and increased to 58 percent after six months.

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According to results published in the journal JAMA Network Open, the risk doubled in children classified as overweight or obese.

The team at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Ohio, did not study whether the likelihood of a new diagnosis lasts longer than six months.

The researchers said type 2 diabetes is already increasing in children – largely due to the obesity epidemic.

Parents have also spoken anecdotally about their suspicions that contracting Covid could lead to their children developing type 2 diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes is often referred to as the “silent killer” because symptoms – such as more frequent trips to the toilet or fatigue – can often be viewed as common complaints.

It doesn’t directly kill those who have it, but it can cause conditions such as heart disease and stroke, as well as vision problems, kidney and nerve damage.

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In most cases, the disease is triggered by poor lifestyle habits such as too much unhealthy food or lack of exercise.

Multiple research teams have shown that adults are at increased risk of being diagnosed with diabetes after being infected with Covid-19.

For example, Canadian scientists said those who had Covid were more likely to develop new-onset type 2 diabetes.

However, a study of Britons by King’s College London found that the risk returned to baseline levels after three months.

According to the results published in PLOS Medicine, diabetes diagnoses increased by 81 percent in acute Covid-19 and remained elevated by 27 percent four to 12 weeks after infection.

The researchers could not say whether the short-term increase in risk was directly due to Covid infection or whether there were undiagnosed cases among those suffering from Covid.

Research last week found that Covid “doubles the risk of a heart attack, stroke or death up to three years later”.

Data from more than 10,000 Britons over the age of 50 showed that the risk is even higher for people with blood types A, B or AB than those with blood type O.

None of the participants were vaccinated at the time of infection as vaccinations against Covid-19 were not yet available.

How can you prevent your child from developing type 2 diabetes?

Factors such as ethnicity can increase the risk of type 2 diabetes.

However, living with obesity and being overweight is believed to be the reason for the increasing number of children with type 2, says Diabetes UK.

If your child is severely overweight, you can help them reach a healthy weight, according to the NHS.

This includes exercising more, limiting portions to child size and eating healthier.

Exercise doesn’t have to be more than “playing”, riding a bike, swimming or using a playground, as long as they are happy and moving.

“All children need around 60 minutes of physical activity a day for good health, but it doesn’t have to be all at once,” says the NHS.

When it comes to diet, children should avoid eating too much of the same things that cause weight gain in adults – sweets, chocolate, crisps and cakes.

It is important that you as a parent also set a good role model and try to involve the whole family so that there is no feeling that your child is being targeted.

It can be a scary time when your child is diagnosed with diabetes, but doctors will be there for you and support you.

Your child will receive a treatment plan that you as the parent will be involved in carrying out – including insulin injections.

You’ll also need to keep a close eye on your child’s glucose levels to make sure they don’t get dangerously low or high.

Additionally, children with diabetes need to eat a healthy diet and exercise is seen as “incredibly important,” says Diabetes UK.

Symptoms of type 2 diabetes in children

The most common symptoms of type 1 and type 2 diabetes in children are:

  • Toilet – Frequent trips to the toilet to urinate, bedwetting in a previously dry child, or heavier diapers in babies. Getting up at night to go to the toilet.
  • Thirst – Being really thirsty and not being able to quench your thirst. Your child may ask for a drink more often, finish their drinks very quickly, or you may notice that they are drinking more in general.
  • Tired – Feeling more tired than usual. Having less energy than normal, not playing as often, less energy for exercise
  • Thinner – Lose weight or look thinner than usual.

You may also notice that your child is getting more infections than usual.