COVID-19: The Underestimated Pandemic Impacting People With Diabetes

摘要

I have learned how well healthcare providers around the world engaged to empower, educate, and treat thousands of impacted patients, but how ill-prepared the world is for pandemics such as COVID-19. Many hospital clinics in large cities have closed and Endocrinology Fellows are forced to resort to telemedicine to renew medications because prescriptions for many clinic patients run out if their next appointment is missed. Telemedicine use in the United States increased by 50% compared to one month prior, while entire hospitals transition to full virus treatment facilities and specialists function as “Hospitalists” to handle the masses.1 Triage and tent systems have been initiated but shortages in masks and hand sanitizers (personal protective equipments [PPEs]), ventilators, and tests have made patient interactions challenging. Education and awareness for diabetes communities is needed, so patients know what to do, how to prevent contamination, and incorporate these habits into their daily lives.