Impact of COVID-19 on Patients with Diabetes Standard of Care in the Jazan Region, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Background: COVID-19 patients with DM have increased mortality and severity of the disease. Although telemedicine helps to minimize the impact of COVID-19 on the DM standard of care, it is increasingly evident that COVID-19 has a significant impact on DM standards of care, especially in areas where telemedicine is not available. Objective: The study aimed to assess the impact of COVID-19 on patients with diabetes standard of care in the Jazan region, Saudi Arabia. Methods: A cross-sectional study using an online pretested questionnaire targeted adult diabetic patients living in the Jazan region between December 2021 to March 2022. The participants were selected through a random sampling method. They completed self-administered questionnaires that included demographic variables. Results: A total of 258 study subjects participated in this study. In comparison to DM standards of care before and during COVID-19, there was no clinically significant difference in medication compliance, blood glucose checking, or experiencing blood glucose extrusion. However, with the spread of the corona pandemic and the closure of clinics, the percentage of those who have difficulty controlling blood sugar levels has increased to 22%, despite the availability of telemedicine. Conclusion: DM standards of care have not been affected and were not statistically significant, which could be explained by the rapid adoption of telemedicine during the lockdown. However, as corona spread participants had difficulty controlling blood sugar levels. This indicates that governmental multidisciplinary work limits the COVID-19 impact; however, further work is still needed to ensure that DM care is not compromised.

The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Diabetes Self-Management in Saudi Arabia

“…Difficulties in glucose management may be due to common barriers reported in both local and international studies, which have mentioned that adherence and access to healthcare services was decreased during the pandemic. A cross-sectional study conducted in Jazan, KSA, involving 394 patients found that the COVID-19 lockdown significantly reduced the levels of compliance, medical treatment, and lifestyle habits among Saudi patients with diabetes [ 49 ]. A one-year follow-up study examined the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on diabetes self-management globally.…”

The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Diabetes Self-Management in Saudi Arabia

“…Difficulties in glucose management may be due to common barriers reported in both local and international studies which have mentioned that adherence and access to healthcare services was decreased during the pandemic. A cross-sectional study conducted in Jazan, Saudi Arabia, involving 394 patients found that the COVID-19 lockdown significantly reduced the levels of compliance, medical treatment, and lifestyle habits among Saudi patients with diabetes [30]. A one-year follow-up study examined the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on diabetes self-management globally.…”

Health-Related Quality of Life of Adolescents and Children With Type 1 Diabetes in the Jazan Region of Saudi Arabia

“…The Raosoft calculator (Raosoft Inc., Seattle, WA) [19] was employed to ascertain the sample size. Based on a 95% confidence level, a margin of error of 5%, an anticipated response rate of 50%, and a total diabetic patient count of 39,000 in Jazan [20], the smallest required sample size was determined to be 381.…”