Possible mechanisms appear to be direct pancreatic damage from SARS-CoV-2 and/or the associated systemic inflammatory syndrome with severe COVID-19, as reflected in high levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNFα), causing impaired pancreatic insulin secretion [15] and insulin resistance [16]. The gene discussed is IL6; the disease is COVID-19.