According to a recent study, a typical herpes virus can raise the risk of type 2 diabetes.
The latest research, conducted by scientists at Ludwig Maximilian University and Helmholtz Munich in Germany, was a continuation of earlier studies that suggested viruses (such as rubella and hepatitis C) may be related to type 1 diabetes (an autoimmune disease not linked to obesity).
More than 1,200 adults with normal blood sugar levels were enrolled by the researchers.
Eight known herpes viruses, including varicella-zoster (chickenpox and shingles), CMV, Epstein-Barr virus, and herpes simplex viruses 1 and 2 (HSV1 and HSV2, which cause cold sores and genital herpes, respectively), were examined in the participants. (It is common and mostly symptomless, but it can produce flu-like symptoms.
) Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection was quite prevalent; 46% of individuals tested positive for antibodies against the virus, a sign of prior infection; 11% of participants tested positive for HSV 2. Additionally, the majority of individuals possessed antibodies against several herpes virus varieties.
364 trial participants developed prediabetes seven years later. Compared to people who had no prior herpes symptoms, those who initially tested positive for HSV2 were 59% more likely to develop prediabetes or diabetes.
According to a study in the journal Diabetologia, people with CMV infection had a 33% higher risk of getting prediabetes or diabetes.
The herpes viruses that cause shingles, chickenpox, and cold sores were not linked to type 2 diabetes by the researchers.
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According to study lead author and neurologist Tim Wolfley, Good Health is the first publication to examine how the herpes virus might cause prediabetes, which results in type 2 diabetes. Our study is unique since we We previously examined the study participants to discover if they had antibodies to several herpes viruses.
Even though the herpes virus is fairly widespread, many people are unaware that they have had one or more varieties of it.
While our research indicated that age, BMI, cholesterol, and fasting glucose accounted for the majority of the variance in prediabetes incidence, HSV2 (HSV2) and cytomegalovirus (CMV) both enhance the risk.
According to earlier studies, some viruses may decrease the amount of insulin-producing cells in the pancreas or they may turn off proteins that regulate how cells metabolise sugar and convert it into energy, which may help to explain how infection and type 2 diabetes are related.
The possibility that preventing herpes virus infection can lower the chance of getting diabetes was raised by the researchers, but it is yet unclear.
According to Dr. Wolfley, these findings show a connection between viruses and diabetes (and prediabetes) and the need for additional study to assess public health virus prevention strategies, maybe including the creation of efficient herpes virus vaccines.
The best strategy to lower your chance of developing diabetes right now is to eat a healthy, balanced diet and engage in regular physical activity, according to Dr. Faye Riley of Diabetes UK.
Study: Possibility of chronic illness risk rise due to common herpes virus infection
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