Novel appearance of hyperglycemia/diabetes, associated with COVID-19

In a recent meta-analysis the prevalence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-associated hyperglycemia was 25%, and that of COVID-19-associated new-onset diabetes was 19%. An association between hyperglycemia or new-onset diabetes and COVID-19 has been suggested. In a recent relevant study of critically and non-critically ill patients with COVID-19, we found that indeed beta-cell function was compromised in critically ill patients with COVID-19 and that these patients showed a high glycemic gap. Nevertheless, one quarter of critically ill patients with no history of diabetes have stress hyperglycemia, a finding which could obscure the prevalence of hyperglycemia or new-onset diabetes that could be attributed to COVID-19 per se.