The Implications of the Pandemic with Covid-19 in the Glycemic Control of People with Type 2 Diabetes

Abstract

Introduction The COVID-19 lockdown influenced the glycemic control and other metabolic parameters in people with type 1 and 2 diabetes mellitus. Objective To study the effects of COVID-19 lockdown on glycemic control in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Material and Methods Our study group included 120 Romanian people with T2DM from both urban and rural areas. We employed a structured questionnaire with multiple-choice to collect data about DM management during lockdown, the interaction with their diabetologist, the access to treatment, and what other factors influenced their DM management during the lockdown. Results We did not observe an increase of numbers of hyper or hypoglycemia during the restriction period in people with T2DM. The number of glycemic imbalances was higher in people treated with insulin than those with oral antidiabetics (OAD) ( p =0.003, X 2 =8.91). Regarding the causes of imbalances, we did not obtain a significant difference during the restriction period, neither between patients following treatment with insulin nor with OAD. On the contrary, we observed that only 26.7% of people with T2DM managed to maintain their weight or lost weight vs 73.3% patients who gained several extra kg ( p <0.001, X 2 =52.26). Conclusion The findings of this study have demonstrated that in people with T2DM, the COVID-19 lockdown determines better glycemic control among patients treated with OAD compared to those treated with insulin therapy. Anxiety, stress, and emotions were the main reasons that led to the increase in glycemic values of these patients. Also, most patients have gained weight either due to lack of physical activity or due to stress.

The Implications of the Pandemic with Covid-19 in the Glycemic Control of People with Type 2 Diabetes [Letter]

“…The findings of the study shed light on the impact of the pandemic-related restrictions on the management of T2DM, including the influence of stress, anxiety, and lifestyle changes on glycemic control. 1 …”

“…The findings of the study shed light on the impact of the pandemic-related restrictions on the management of T2DM, including the influence of stress, anxiety, and lifestyle changes on glycemic control. 1 The study's observation that people with T2DM treated with oral antidiabetics demonstrated better glycemic control compared to those treated with insulin therapy is particularly noteworthy. Additionally, the study highlights the challenges faced by T2DM patients in maintaining a balanced lifestyle and managing their disease during the pandemic.…”