Multiple cases of re-infections/re-positive RT-PCR of COVID-19 in people with DM have been reported.
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Patients with uncontrolled diabetes mellitus (DM) have impaired antibody response.
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Lack of neutralizing antibodies in DM may contribute to an increased risk of reinfection.
Abstract
Several cases of positive real time-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) results (called “re-positives”) after recovery from COVID-19 have emerged worldwide. These cases could represent patients experiencing a “turn positive” of nucleic acid detection attributed to the high false-negative rate of RT-PCR. On the contrary, in symptomatic patients, the possibility of reactivation or true reinfection remains. We hypothesize that people with uncontrolled diabetes mellitus might be at a high risk of reinfections with COVID-19 attributed to the impaired adaptive immune response. In fact, multiple cases of re-positives/re-infections in people with diabetes mellitus have hitherto been reported.
