Diabetes in COVID-19: Prevalence, pathophysiology, prognosis and practical considerations

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dsx.2020.04.004Get rights and content

Highlights

  • High prevalence of diabetes is seen in patients with SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) and the presence of diabetes is a determinant of severity and mortality.

  • Diabetes might facilitate infection by COVID-19 due to increased viral entry into cell and impaired immune response.

  • Blood glucose control is important for all patients who have diabetes and COVID-19 infection.

  • Telemedicine can be very useful for the management of patients with diabetes in present times with limited access to healthcare facilities.

Abstract

Background and aims

High prevalence of diabetes makes it an important comorbidity in patients with COVID-19. We sought to review and analyze the data regarding the association between diabetes and COVID-19, pathophysiology of the disease in diabetes and management of patients with diabetes who develop COVID-19 infection.

Methods

PubMed database and Google Scholar were searched using the key terms ‘COVID-19’, ‘SARS-CoV-2’, ‘diabetes’, ‘antidiabetic therapy’ up to April 2, 2020. Full texts of the retrieved articles were accessed.

Results

There is evidence of increased incidence and severity of COVID-19 in patients with diabetes. COVID-19 could have effect on the pathophysiology of diabetes. Blood glucose control is important not only for patients who are infected with COVID-19, but also for those without the disease. Innovations like telemedicine are useful to treat patients with diabetes in today’s times.

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