Relative Limited Impact of COVID-19 on Diabetes: A Personal View

摘要

I have learned that thus far coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has had little effect on the diabetes community as a whole. That may sound strange, as—if anything—we know from studies performed in China, Italy, and elsewhere, that diabetes is one of the most prevalent comorbidities among patients with COVID-19, in particular among those admitted to the intensive care units.1,2 Indeed, diabetes is a recognized risk factor for severe pneumonia due to viral infections in general and due to COVID-19 in particular, contributing to fatal outcomes, which has been linked to hyperglycemia-induced overexpression of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 on cells, thus facilitating viral cell entry.3 Many people with diabetes and their families are understandably concerned about their chances of becoming infected and the higher risks of the potentially life-threatening course the disease may take or the complications it may cause in them. However, my impression is that this knowledge alone or the consequent fear for severe disease have not caused major alterations in how the majority of people with type 1 or insulin-treated type 2 diabetes manage their diabetes. They have continued to take care of themselves by using insulin, monitoring glucose, and sticking to dietary plans as they are used to do and have been doing in the past.