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Flu Hospitalization Tied to Diabetes Risk

A large English cohort study found influenza hospitalization more than doubled the short-term risk of new-onset diabetes, with prediabetes and critical care admission among the strongest predictors.

  • By

  • Andrea Surnit

  • May 12, 2026

  • 4 min

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  • 1

    Influenza hospitalization in England is linked to a 54% higher rate of newly diagnosed diabetes compared to matched community controls.

  • 2

    The incidence of diabetes post-influenza hospitalization was 12.5 cases per 1,000 person-years, higher than both matched controls and sepsis patients.

  • 3

    Patients hospitalized with influenza had a 2.7-fold higher adjusted rate of diabetes diagnosis within 90 days post-discharge compared to matched controls.

  • 4

    Higher rates of prediabetes were also observed in influenza patients, with 16.6 cases per 1,000 person-years compared to 11.3 in matched controls.

  • 5

    The study suggests that acute respiratory infections may lead to diabetes through inflammatory-driven insulin resistance and potential pancreatic injury.

Original Source(s)

Flu Hospitalization Tied to Diabetes Risk

  • by Andrea Surnit

  • May 12, 2026

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