The Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic Process on the Treatment and Follow-up of Diabetes Mellitus in Type 2 Diabetic Patients

Background: During the Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the frequency of doctor visits may decrease in patients with type 2 diabetes, physical activity may decrease due to restrictions, and eating habits may change.This study aimed to examine the impact of the COVID-19 on glycemic control, lipid profile, body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, and liver and kidney functions in patients with type 2 diabetes. Materials and Methods:In this study, the biochemical values of type 2 diabetic patients admitted to the internal medicine and endocrinology outpatient clinics of our hospital between 01/04/2022 and 01/04/2023 were compared with their initial values before and during the pandemic.In addition, anti-diabetic drugs, BMI, blood pressure, and frequency of doctor visits were compared before and after the pandemic. Results:The patients' glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels demonstrated a significant increase from both their initial and current readings during the pandemic, surpassing the values before the pandemic (p<0.05).Additionally, the initial glucose levels of the patients during the pandemic also exhibited a notable rise in contrast to the pre-pandemic measurements (p<0.05).On the other hand, the current levels of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and BMI for the patients saw a significant decrease in relation to their pre-pandemic values (p<0.05). Conclusion:This study noted a decline in the frequency of doctor visits and a subsequent deterioration in glycemic control among patients with type 2 diabetes during the COVID-19 pandemic.In case of a natural disaster that may occur, deterioration in glycemic control can be prevented by increasing physical activities, paying attention to diet, and providing intensified diabetes treatment with tele-medicine when necessary.