Multiple influences of the COVID-19 pandemic on children with diabetes: Changes in epidemiology, metabolic control and medical care

Abstract

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has heavily affected health worldwide, with the various forms of diabetes in children experiencing changes at various levels, including epidemiology, diabetic ketoacidosis rates and medical care. Type 1 diabetes showed an apparent increase in incidence, possibly owing to a direct damage of the virus to the β-cell. Diabetic ketoacidosis also increased in association with the general fear of referring patients to the hospital. Most children with diabetes (both type 1 and type 2) did not show a worsening in metabolic control during the first lockdown, possibly owing to a more controlled diet by their parents. Glucose sensor and hybrid closed loop pump technology proved to be effective in all patients with type 1 diabetes during the pandemic, especially because the downloading of data allowed for the practice of tele-medicine. Telemedicine has in fact grown around the world and National Health Systems have started to consider it as a routine activity in clinical practice. The present review encompasses all the aspects related to the effects of the pandemic on the different forms of diabetes in children.

Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus And Its Complications In Children Aged ≤20 Years From Punjab, Pakistan

“…It was a peak time of COVID-19 pandemic, which offered great difficulties in consulting and taking patient's records of the disease, and also negatively affected the overall situation at PDCs. The studies showed that COVID-19 pandemic have affected the diabetic patients more severely in different parts of the world [30][31][32][33]. Furthermore, we investigated T1DM issue among children in unprivileged areas of Punjab, Pakistan, where medical facilities of acceptable quality are not readily available for general public.…”

“…Moreover, it is also known that among children at the age of 20 and less, boys and girls are equally affected [14,16]. There are reports that the incidence has increased due to COVID-19 pandemic in Germany [30], UK [31], Romania [32] and Italy [33].…”

Endocrinological Involvement in Children and Adolescents Affected by COVID-19: A Narrative Review

“…The association between COVID-19 infection and type 1 diabetes (T1D) in children has been extensively studied in the last three years. However, the available data regarding the trend of incidence of newly diagnosed T1D during the COVID-19 pandemic are conflicting [ 87 , 88 ].…”