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AIMS: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to determine the relative risk of new-onset diabetes mellitus (NODM) in COVID-19 patients compared to individuals without COVID-19, with subgroup analyses based on diabetes type, age, severity of COVID-19 infection and corticosteroid use. METHODS: PubMed, Medline, Embase, and Scopus were systematically searched for peer-reviewed cohort studies comparing NODM incidence in COVID-19 patients against a control group without COVID-19. A random-effects meta-analysis was conducted to determine the relative risk of NODM following COVID-19 infection. RESULTS: A total of 12 studies were included, involving over 48 million participants. The risk of developing NODM was 41 % higher in patients following COVID-19 infection compared to the control group (RR 1.41; 95 % CI 1.07-1.84). Subgroup analysis revealed a higher incidence of type 2 compared to type 1 diabetes mellitus post COVID-19 infection, and increased risk of NODM in adults and patients with higher severity of disease. CONCLUSION: COVID-19 infection is associated with a significantly higher risk of NODM. Close monitoring for hyperglycaemia should be considered following COVID-19 infection, especially in adult patients requiring hospital or ICU admission.