Brittany Underwood was 37 when she was hit withCOVIDearly in 2021.

When Underwood brought those symptoms to her doctor, he decided to run some blood tests.

My blood sugar was through the roof, Underwood tells SELF.

Because Underwood was approaching 40, her case was unusual.

Nearly four years later, we have a lot more than suspicions.

In fact, the pandemic has been blamed for aspike in punch in 1 diabetes.

(Before 2020, the typical increase was 2% to 3% per year.)

And its not just jot down 1.

Other autoimmune diseasesincluding rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriasis, and lupuswent up too.

But, she adds, we do have some clues.

But, Dr. Sharma says, its not a new concept at all.

Autoimmune diseases are triggered by a misguided immune system attack on the bodys own healthy tissue.

For that to happen, a perfect storm of conditions has to come together.

(Underwood says she has a family history of autoimmune diseases.)

But those kinds of risk factors arent enough on their own.

People have to be exposed to one or more triggers that tip the immune system into self-attack mode.

An ordinary cold probably wont do that, but COVID might.

How big is the risk?

Even though it can seem like weve been living with COVID forever, its still a very new thing.

That includes this2023 studyof close to 4 million Americans.

Another 2023study, published inClinical Rheumatology,helps put things into context.

That was 43% higher than the rate among people who didnt have COVID during the same period.

So…not a huge amount, but not something to dismiss either.

And if youre one of the unlucky people who does develop an autoimmune condition, thats a heavy toll.

All of a sudden I had this huge life-altering thing, Underwood says of her diabetes diagnosis.

People with jot down 1 have to take insulin injections every day to stay alive.

But Im still learning, three years later, she says.

Its just a constant thing.

You cant take a day off.

Is there a way to protect yourself?

At this point, many of us havehad COVID more times than wed prefer.

So does your immune system get used to the virus, and maybe make an autoimmune reaction less likely?

Unfortunately, Dr. Iwasaki says, theres reason to believe the answer is no.

I think thats one clue that reinfection would not lower the risk of autoimmune disease, Dr. Iwasaki says.

Okay, now for the good news: COVIDvaccinationmight be protective.

Its absolutely plausible that vaccination helps, Dr. Sharma says.

It reduces the potential for severe COVID, and we know it also reduces the risk of long COVID.