# Impact of SARS CoV2 on post-hospital recovery of carbohydrate and muscle metabolism: role of endothelial injury

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO DENVER · 2023 · $351,222

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
This proposal tests the novel hypothesis that pre-existing diabetes (or new stress hyperglycemia), exacerbates
the systemic impact of COVID-19-mediated microvascular injury and slows recovery via persistence of
hyperglycemia and diabetes related persistent endothelial injury. Our long-term goal is to understand the
post-infection consequences of COVID-19 infection on carbohydrate metabolism and diabetes
complications. Decreased effective perfusion of the islets and skeletal muscle may contribute to the post-
infection sequelae of COVID-19 infection such as decreased insulin secretion and insulin action and fatigue.
The goal of this proposal is to examine the short-term impact of COVID-19 infection on post-
hospitalization carbohydrate and skeletal muscle metabolism, and to test the correlation of
hyperglycemia and diffuse endothelial injury with these late endpoints.
Hypothesis: COVID-19 deleteriously impacts carbohydrate metabolism and skeletal muscle function
due to systemic perfusion abnormalities, worse in diabetes; post-hospitalization recovery of these
parameters will be slowed in the context of hyperglycemia and endothelial injury.
SA#1: Test the hypothesis that COVID-19 impairs insulin secretion and action and that post-
hospitalization recovery is slowed in the context of persistent hyperglycemia and/or diffuse endothelial
injury. The relative contribution of decreased insulin secretion versus systemic insulin resistance to COVID-19
mediated hyperglycemia is unknown, as are the factors contributing to dysglycemia. Studies under this aim will
evaluate the relationship of diffuse endothelial injury and dysglycemia to carbohydrate metabolism in people
with and without diabetes post-hospitalization using an oral glucose tolerance test.
SA# 2: Test the hypothesis that dysglycemia and diffuse endothelial injury slow skeletal muscle
recovery post COVID-19. No data exist on post COVID-19 functional status recovery or skeletal muscle
function comparing people with and without diabetes. These experiments will examine post-hospitalization
muscle oxidative flux, insulin action and perfusion and explore the correlation of these parameters, glucose
profiles and endothelial injury in people with and without diabetes post COVID-19 hospitalization.
Impact: Successful execution of the proposed studies will provide new information on recovery from COVID-
19 with regards to carbohydrate metabolism and frailty. These data may inform post-hospitalization glycemic
management to lessen the long-term consequences of COVID-19 in people with diabetes.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10686353
- **Project number:** 5R01DK130351-03
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO DENVER
- **Principal Investigator:** IVOR Samuel DOUGLAS
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2023
- **Award amount:** $351,222
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2021-09-15 → 2025-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10686353

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10686353, Impact of SARS CoV2 on post-hospital recovery of carbohydrate and muscle metabolism: role of endothelial injury (5R01DK130351-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10686353. Licensed CC0.

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