COVID-19 Lockdown and Lifestyle Changes in Saudi Adults With Types 1 and 2 Diabetes

Abstract

ObjectiveWe aimed to evaluate and compare the impact of COVID-19 lockdown on lifestyle changes and other common related effects of the lockdown in Saudi adults with diabetes mellitus (DM), both type 1 (T1D) and type 2 diabetes (T2D).Methods265 T1D and 285 T2D individuals were included in this cross-sectional survey during lockdown using an online questionnaire and compared with 297 participants without DM. Variables included demographics, treatment changes, use of supplements, change in sleeping habits and physical activity, dietary changes, social and mental health, and education and awareness during COVID-19 lockdown.ResultsThe COVID-19 lockdown was associated with more treatment doses in people with T1D but not in those with T2D (p = 0.003). More participants with T1D and T2D than the control group reported that they felt symptoms of depression during lockdown (ORs of 1.83, p = 0.008 and 2.2, p = 0.001, respectively) and that lockdown affected them psychologically (ORs of 1.64, p = 0.019 and 1.85, p = 0.005, respectively). More participants with T1D than controls reported that their physical activity decreased during lockdown (OR of 2.70, p = 0.024). Furthermore, significantly lesser participants in both DM groups than controls agreed that the health education regarding COVID-19 covered everything (ORs of 0.41, p < 0.001 and 0.56, p < 0.001, respectively for T1D and T2D groups). Regarding dietary habits, the DM groups reported more changes in either the number of daily meals, meal content, or mealtimes than the control group.ConclusionsCOVID-19 lockdown-associated lifestyle changes were more prevalent in individuals with T1D and T2D compared to control. Findings may assist public health authorities in outlining their responses in pandemics and promote healthy lifestyle adaptations in this high-risk cohort to limit adverse effects in future lockdowns.

The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Diabetes Self-Management in Saudi Arabia

“…Previous studies suggested that the COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on diabetes self-management in the KSA population. The challenges faced by individuals with diabetes include reduced compliance with medical treatment, lifestyle changes, increased psychological distress, and limited access to healthcare services; however, the findings of this study have several important implications related to diabetes care in the post-COVID-19 era [ 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 47 , 48 ].…”

“…In the current study, three additional items on overall COVID-19 impact upon diabetes control, diet, and exercise were asked, to end up with a total of 19 questions. The scale includes five subscales: glucose management (1,4,6,10,12), diet control (2,5,9,13), physical activity (8,11,15), use of health services (3,7,14), and overall COVID-19 impact (17,18,19). Item 16 was not included in any subscales.…”

“…Fatani et al reported that the lockdown had detrimental effects on physical activity and sleeping hours, but minimal effect on eating habits, which may have mitigated the negative effect on glycemic control parameters compared to the pre-COVID period [ 11 ]. Aldaghri et al also reported that dietary habits significantly changed in content, number, and mealtimes compared to a control group [ 12 ]. A cross-sectional study in 394 individuals with diabetes in Jeddah Province showed that compliance with diet and physical activity was reduced in the post-lockdown period compared to the pre-lockdown period (25.1% vs. 27.7% and 31% vs. 35%, respectively) [ 13 ].…”

Type 1 diabetes outpatient care and treatment effectiveness during COVID-19: A single-center cohort study

“… 6 Another study from the Middle Eastern region revealed that COVID-19 lockdown-associated lifestyle changes, such as decreased physical activity, were more prevalent in individuals with T1DM as compared to control group, potentially explaining undesirable weight gain. 20 …”

Dose Intervals and Time since Final Dose on Changes in Metabolic Indices after COVID-19 Vaccination

“…This retrospective longitudinal study continued an educational interventional program conducted by the Chair for Biomarkers in Chronic Diseases (CBCD), King Saud University, in collaboration with the Saudi Charitable Association of Diabetes [ 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 ]. The study utilized a cluster-randomized sampling approach for selecting 60 high and secondary schools in Riyadh city to conduct an educational program among students and teachers on the rising prevalence of metabolic disorders in Saudi Arabia, including obesity, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome (MetS).…”