Challenges and Opportunities for Diabetes Care in the Philippines in the Time of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Increased global online interest in diabetes during the COVID-19 pandemic: An infodemiology study

“…Due to the extraordinarily high number of COVID-19 patients and the limited resources, the COVID-19 pandemic greatly affected the management and care of non-COVID-19 patients, including the diabetes patients ( Bodilsen et al, 2021 ; Ojetti et al, 2020 ). Since the pandemic started, there was a significant reduction of non-COVID-19 patients, including those with diabetes, seeking consultation in the outpatient clinics and treatment due to urgent medical conditions in the emergency department ( Arcellana and Jimeno, 2020 ; Moynihan et al, 2021 ; Santi et al, 2021 ; Schofield et al, 2020 ; Sevinç et al, 2021 ). This resulted in a concurrent increase in out-of-hospital mortality mainly driven by deaths for neoplasms, cardiovascular and endocrine diseases ( Santi et al, 2021 ).…”

Out on a limb: living with diabetes in the Philippines during the pandemic

“…The COVID-19 pandemic substantially compromised the delivery of many essential health services across the globe. In the Philippines, health practitioners consider people with diabetes as direct and collateral victims of the pandemic, 1 as they experience unintended neglect due to the disruption of care. Both types of diabetes are well recognised risk factors for severe COVID-19 outcomes.…”

“…In the Philippines, as in many other nations, extensive lockdowns affected public transportation and restricted mobility. 1 People with diabetes from remote areas missed prescription refills and follow-up consultations, resorted to home remedies, and relied on neighbours with similar experiences for medical advice. 2 These compensatory alternatives served as cost-saving mechanisms for families affected by unemployment and job loss, which affected the purchasing power 2 of people with diabetes and their families for medicines and related essentials.…”

“… 2 These compensatory alternatives served as cost-saving mechanisms for families affected by unemployment and job loss, which affected the purchasing power 2 of people with diabetes and their families for medicines and related essentials. Access programmes to anti-hyperglycaemic agents were also temporarily halted, 1 further exacerbating the financial burden of diabetes mellitus care. Even with telemedicine and private care as alternatives, these remained largely inaccessible to many patient groups.…”

“… 2 This interrupted non-COVID services, resulting in non-compliance to prescription, poor glycaemic control, delays to consultation, and increased risk for diabetes-related morbidity and mortality. 1 Orthopaedic centers that treat people with diabetic foot ulcers were among those that had to adjust. Non-operative outpatient management, including initiation of offloading devices and wound monitoring, was consequently temporarily suspended.…”