Endocrine Abstracts

Aim

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the whole world, reducing hospital admissions of patients with chronic diseases. This study aims to evaluate the effects of difficulties experienced by diabetic patients in diabetes management on blood glucose regulation during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown.

Methods

This study included 93 diabetic patients followed up in Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases Clinic of Karadeniz Technical University. Biochemical parameters (glucose, HbA1c, lipid profile), diet and exercise status were compared between patients’ first admission to the hospital after June 2020, the date that pandemic course started to slow down and their last admission before 11 March 2020, the date of the first case seen in Turkey. The frequency of blood glucose monitoring, compliance to diabetic treatment, hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia frequency, hospital admission requirements of patients and whether they had any infection were questioned.

Findings

89.2% of the participants were Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (DM) and 10.8% were Type 1 DM. We found that 78.5% of them had dietary compliance, 41.9% did exercise at home, 53.8% used their medicines regularly, and 43.0% monitored their blood glucose every day. More than one hypoglycemia per week was observed in 15.1% of the patients, while hyperglycemia was observed more than once a week in 4.9%. When biochemical values before and after the lockdown were compared, a statistically significant decrease was found in fasting glucose level (P = 0.026) and body mass index (P = 0.008). No statistically significant difference was observed in terms of HbA1c and lipid levels before and after the lockdown. When the HbA1c change was evaluated; it was observed that the frequency of HbA1c increase was higher in those who did not comply to their diet and who did their blood glucose follow-up ’less than once a week or not at all’ (P = 0.001; P = 0.015, respectively). When non-HDL-K change was evaluated; it was observed that non-HDL-C increase was higher in those who did not comply to diet regularly and did not exercise at home (P = 0.047; P = 0.037, respectively).

Discussion

This study has shown that patients who did not have COVID infection and did not apply to the hospital for treatment and follow-up of diabetes during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, can continue their diabetes management, compliance and follow-up on their own. It once again pointed out the importance of diabetes education, diet, exercise, frequency of blood sugar monitoring and compliance to the treatment.