IDF21-0340 Challenges Faced by Patients in Diabetes Care and Management in the Philippines During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Out on a limb: living with diabetes in the Philippines during the pandemic

“…Both types of diabetes are well recognised risk factors for severe COVID-19 outcomes. People with diabetes require close monitoring and care, but local quarantine measures 2 made access to multimodal diabetes management extremely challenging in the Philippines.…”

“… 1 People with diabetes from remote areas missed prescription refills and follow-up consultations, resorted to home remedies, and relied on neighbours with similar experiences for medical advice. 2 These compensatory alternatives served as cost-saving mechanisms for families affected by unemployment and job loss, which affected the purchasing power 2 of people with diabetes and their families for medicines and related essentials. Access programmes to anti-hyperglycaemic agents were also temporarily halted, 1 further exacerbating the financial burden of diabetes mellitus care.…”

“…Tertiary institutions, which were mostly government facilities, were designated as COVID referral centers. 2 This interrupted non-COVID services, resulting in non-compliance to prescription, poor glycaemic control, delays to consultation, and increased risk for diabetes-related morbidity and mortality. 1 Orthopaedic centers that treat people with diabetic foot ulcers were among those that had to adjust.…”