Diabetes is a ‘Silent Killer’ and demands timely management. On the occasion of World Diabetes Day, a four-year-long data conducted by Dr. Rajiv Kovil's clinics located in the Western suburbs of Mumbai revealed alarming changes in the metabolic health of patients.
According to the study, the COVID-19 pandemic has not only reshaped daily routines but also accelerated trends in diabetes and metabolic health causing alarming changes in disease onset age, weight gain, and associated complications such as liver and kidney issues.
The study highlights the prompt initiation of diabetes screening and management to reduce the chances of complications in youngsters and people of all age groups.
Dr. Rajiv Kovil's clinics located in the Western suburbs of Mumbai conducted a comparative analysis of patient profiles pre-pandemic (March 24, 2016 - March 23, 2020) and post-pandemic (March 24, 2020 - March 23, 2024) revealing alarming changes in disease onset age, weight gain, and associated complications. According to the study, the COVID-19 pandemic has not only reshaped daily routines but also accelerated trends in diabetes and metabolic health among patients.
In the pre-pandemic period, the clinic saw 8,824 patients (3,094 new), who made a total of 30,334 visits. These numbers spiked post-pandemic, with 12,058 patients (3,228 new) visiting the clinic 50,802 times, highlighting an increased demand for care, especially for diabetes and its related complications.
“One of the most significant shifts has been in the age of type 2 diabetes onset. The average age dropped from 47 years pre-pandemic to 42 years post-pandemic, with a growing number of diagnoses now occurring in individuals in their late 20s and 30s. Weight gain among newly diagnosed has also surged, with average weights rising from 75 kg to 84 kg for men and from 61 kg to 69 kg for women. In particular, women have shown a concerning increase in body fat composition, with an average of 42% compared to 36% in men, largely driven by visceral fat—a key risk factor for metabolic complications,” said Dr. Rajiv Kovil, Head of Diabetology, Zandra Healthcare and Co-founder of Rang De Neela Initiative.
“Post-pandemic, the majority of newly diagnosed diabetes cases exhibit complex metabolic disorders. Over 95% of new patients present with dyslipidemia, and hypertension at diagnosis has climbed to 30% from the previous 19%. Indicators of chronic kidney disease, such as elevated uric acid and proteinuria, now affect 18% of new patients, up from 12% pre-pandemic. Liver health has also worsened: of 822 patients undergoing liver function tests, 80% showed raised liver enzymes, pointing to a rise in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD),” highlighted Dr Rajiv Kovil.
Lifestyle data highlights behavioral shifts that exacerbate these health issues. “Dietary recall among newly diagnosed patients shows a jump in the frequency of outside meals, from twice weekly pre-pandemic to six times weekly post-pandemic. Self-reported sleep duration has also dropped, from an average of 7.5 hours per night to 6.8 hours, suggesting an increase in stress and disrupted sleep patterns that can worsen diabetes risk factors. These findings emphasize the urgent need for public health interventions targeting lifestyle management and early metabolic screening to address the rising tide of diabetes and its complications in younger populations,” concluded Dr. Rajiv Kovil.
Dr Aarti Ullal Physician and diabetologist at Gleneagles Hospital Parel said COVID-19 infection may directly lead to new-onset diabetes in some patients, possibly due to the virus's effect on pancreatic cells. The pandemic also led to lifestyle changes for many people, including reduced physical activity due to lockdowns and gym closures, and increased consumption of sugary, oily, and fried food leading to insulin resistance and weight gain raising the chances of diabetes. Increased stress levels, can affect blood sugar regulation. Many people postponed routine health check-ups during the pandemic, leading to delayed diabetes diagnoses. Some patients experiencing long COVID symptoms have shown signs of metabolic changes that could increase diabetes risk. It is the need of the hour for those with diabetes to eat a nutritious diet, exercise daily, check blood sugar levels take medication as recommended by the doctor, and maintain an optimum weight.
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