Impact of diabetes on COVID‐19 and other infection: Report from the 22nd Hong Kong Diabetes and Cardiovascular Risk Factors—East Meets West Symposium

Abstract

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has posed enormous challenges to healthcare systems worldwide. The negative impact of COVID-19 is widespread and includes not only people who contracted the disease but also those with chronic morbidities such as diabetes whose care is compromised due to diversion of medical resources. People with diabetes are generally more susceptible to infection as a result of altered immunity. People with diabetes have a worse prognosis from COVID-19 and there is evidence to suggest that severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 may directly affect pancreatic function precipitating hyperglycaemic crises. In the United Kingdom, one of the most heavily affected countries, guidelines are in place to unify the management of people with diabetes hospitalized for COVID-19. Diabetes services are re-organized to ensure that medical care of people with diabetes is maintained despite resource and other practical constraints. Public health measures including social distancing, hand hygiene and the use of face masks are crucial in containing community transmission of the virus. Hong Kong, one of the most densely populated city in the world, is particularly vulnerable and has in place a stringent containment policy and aggressive contact tracing to ensure public safety during this pandemic.

Health-Related Quality of Life of Moroccan COVID-19 Survivors: A Case-Control Study

“…Additionally, we observed that the odds of COVID-19 were three times higher among patients with type 1 diabetes. Similar results were obtained by other researchers [ 33 , 34 , 35 ]. In a systemic review and a meta-analysis of prevalence and impact of cardiac injury on COVID-19, Fu and colleagues found that the proportions of cardiac injury were 22% amongst 6297 hospitalized patients with COVID-19 [ 36 ].…”

Pulmonary mucormycosis in the aftermath of critical COVID-19 in an immunocompromised patient: Mind the diagnostic gap

“…He had SBS, received parenteral nutrition and had corticoid-induced hyperglycemia. Diabetes and hyperglycemia are also known to predispose to mucormycosis and to severe COVID-19 [ 10 , 11 ]. Elevated glucose levels impair the immune function in several ways, particularly by reducing the innate immune systems’ response towards invading pathogens [10] .…”

“…Diabetes and hyperglycemia are also known to predispose to mucormycosis and to severe COVID-19 [ 10 , 11 ]. Elevated glucose levels impair the immune function in several ways, particularly by reducing the innate immune systems’ response towards invading pathogens [10] . Both SARS-CoV-2 and Mucorales species enter the endothelial cells through glucose regulated protein 78 (GRP78) [ 8 , 12 ], which is presented on the cell surface during cell stress, including glucose dysregulation and COVID-19 infection [8] .…”

Effect of deep breathing exercise with Triflo on dyspnoea, anxiety and quality of life in patients receiving covid‐19 treatment: A randomized controlled trial

“…In addition, it is stated that COVID‐19 susceptibility may increase due to the increase in ACE2 expression in patients with hypertension and using angiotensin receptor blockers (Xu et al, 2020). Due to the suppressive effect of the high blood glucose level on immune function in diabetic patients (Delamaire et al, 1997; Stegenga et al, 2008), and its adverse effects and complications on the circulatory system (Luk et al, 2021), they are at high risk of developing COVID‐19 infection. Since adipose tissue expresses more ACE2 receptors (Jia et al, 2020), it is stated that an increase in BMI poses a risk for severe COVID‐19 (Xu et al, 2020).…”