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Prolonged Severe Hyperglycemia Requiring High-Dose Insulin After COVID-19 in a Patient with Type 2 Diabetes and Recent Long-Term Marijuana Cessation: A Case Report
Abstract
Introduction
COVID-19 is an illness first identified in December 2019. It can cause numerous acute clinical symptoms, including fever, cough, fatigue, dyspnea, and the presence of sputum. Previous literature has shown that acute illness can cause a transient rise in blood glucose levels.
Case Presentation
A white male in his 40s was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus and presented with COVID-19 infection. Blood glucose levels were rising, with a daily average of 390 mg/dL. Initially, this rise in blood glucose appeared to be due to acute illness or stress. However, the patient’s blood glucose values continued to rise post-infection despite increased insulin therapy, suggesting a potential loss of pancreatic beta-cell function.
Conclusion
This patient case report suggests that COVID-19 infection may transiently impair beta-cell function in patients with type 2 diabetes, mimicking type 1 diabetes-like presentations.
