A Brazilian study following 870 adults for seven months highlights slower recovery, more heart complications, and worse quality of life for people with diabetes post-Covid-19, emphasising the need for structured follow-up care.
People with diabetes who were hospitalised with Covid-19 took longer to recover, faced more complications linked to long Covid and reported worse quality of life months after discharge, according to a Brazilian study led by researchers at the University of São Paulo.
The research followed 870 adults for seven months after hospital treatment, including 320 people with diabetes and 550 without the condition. It found that recovery was slower in the diabetes group and that heart-related problems such as heart attack and angina were more common than among patients without diabetes. The study also reported higher levels of frailty, more falls and greater difficulty with everyday activities, along with weaker physical and cognitive performance.
The findings add to a growing body of evidence that diabetes can affect not only the acute phase of Covid-19 but also the longer recovery period. A review indexed by PubMed in 2023 similarly found that diabetes may increase the risk of post-acute sequelae of Covid-19, while newer research published in 2026 has suggested that some diabetes medicines, including metformin and SGLT2 inhibitors, may be associated with lower long-Covid risk in people with type 2 diabetes.
Researchers said the first wave of the pandemic, when the patients in this study were admitted, was a particularly difficult period because vaccines were not yet available. They also noted that social and economic factors can worsen diabetes outcomes, strengthening the case for structured follow-up care after Covid-19. The team is now analysing data collected three years after infection to see how the condition evolves over time.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
