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Will a Virus Cause Elevated Blood Sugar?

Some viral infections have been shown to contribute to hyperglycemia (high blood sugar). These include infections with enteroviruses like coxackie, as well as hepatitis C virus. Treatment with antiretroviral drugs as well as infection with hepatitis C have been shown to increase risk of hyperglycemia in people with HIV. Hyperglycemia is associated with diabetes.

  1. Enteroviruses

    • Common infections with enteroviruses such as coxackie have been shown to contribute to hyperglycemia and diabetes in genetically susceptible mice, according to Marc S. Horowitz, et al., of the Department of Immunology at the The Scripps Research Institute. Further studies in 2009 showed that enteroviruses contributed to the development of type-1 diabetes in young people, according to Reuters News.

    Potential

    • If enteroviruses are shown further to contribute greatly to the development of type-1 diabetes, vaccines against these viruses may provide hope in limiting diabetes, according to Reuters News. However, any possible vaccines against enteroviruses will take a number of years to develop.

    HCV Infection

    • A study by C.E. Behrendt and R.B. Ruiz of Epidemiology, Safety and Risk Management at Pfizer Global Research and Development suggests that young people who have contracted hepatitis C virus (HCV) and who have a family history of diabetes are at increased risk for developing diabetes and that infection with HCV may contribute to advancing from impaired fasting glycemia (IFG), a pre-diabetic condition, to diabetes.

    HIV and Hyperglycemia

    • People who are on antiretroviral therapy for the management of HIV-disease are known to be at increased risk for the development of insulin resistance and metabolic disorders like diabetes. Studies, such as that conducted by Shruti H. Mehta, et al., of Johns Hopkins, have shown that people who are on antiretroviral therapy and who also have HCV infection are at increased risk for developing hyperglycemia.

    Considerations

    • Viral infection have not been shown to directly cause hyperglycemia and diabetes. Rather, they are thought of as triggers that contribute to the development of these conditions in individuals who are otherwise also disposed to developing them, by genetics or behavioral factors.

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