What Every Diabetologist Should Know about SARS-CoV-2: State of Knowledge at the Beginning of 2021

Abstract

For almost a year, the major medical problem has been the pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. People with diabetes who contract COVID-19 are likely to experience more serious symptoms than patients without diabetes. This article presents new research about the epidemiology of COVID-19 in a group of patients with diabetes. It details the mortality and prognosis in such patients, as well as the relationship between COVID-19 and the diseases most often coexisting with diabetes: obesity, atherosclerosis, hypertension, and increased risk for infection. It also details how the virus infects and affects patients with hyperglycemia. The context of glycation and receptors for advanced glycation products (RAGE) seems to be of particular importance here. We also present a hypothesis related to the cause-and-effect axis—it turns out that diabetes can be both the cause of the more difficult course of COVID-19 and the result of SARS-CoV-2 infection. The last part of this article discusses the impact of antihyperglycemic drugs on the development of COVID-19 and other pharmacological implications, including which non-classical antihyperglycemic drugs seem to be effective in both the treatment of coronavirus infection and glucose homeostasis, and what strategies related to RAGE and glycation should be considered.

Role of Ajwa Date Fruit Pulp and Seed in the Management of Diseases through In Vitro and In Silico Analysis

“…This modification adds to the overexpression or variation in activity of receptor. According to several studies, glycation of CD147 enhances the production of metalloproteinases leading to the relaxing of lung tissue and facilitating the invasion of the virus [ 48 ]. Our data show that Ajwa seed methanol extract reduced the browning intensity, aggregation index, and amyloid structures as compared to control samples.…”

Prognosis and antibody profiles in survivors of critical illness from COVID-19: a prospective multicentre cohort study

“…It was postulated that SARS-CoV-2 induced the dysregulation of ACE pathways in pancreatic J o u r n a l P r e -p r o o f endocrine tissues and led to the disorders of glucose metabolism. 34 Further studies on complications including glucose metabolic disorders and underlying mechanisms in COVID-19 patients are needed. This study is not without limitations.…”

Consequences of COVID-19 for the Pancreas

“…With the ongoing SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, patients with reduced normal pancreatic function are at high risk for COVID-19 requiring hospitalization. In particular, elevated blood glucose levels in patient with and without diabetes makes them at high risk of mortality [ 20 ]. Hyperglycemia impairs the immune response (e.g., by reducing the activity of macrophages and polymorphonuclear leukocytes), which in addition influences the excessive cytokine response, and thus has a strong proinflammatory effect.…”