The early impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on adults with type 1 or type 2 diabetes: A national cohort study

Abstract

Aims To describe the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on adults with T1D or T2D in the U.S. Methods Participants, recruited from the Taking Control of Your Diabetes Research Registry, were ≥19 years old and diagnosed with either T1D or T2D for ≥12 months. Participants completed an online survey on a HIPAA-protected platform. Results Completed surveys were received from 763 T1Ds and 619 T2Ds. Average T1D age was 53.3 (SD = 15.3); average T2D age was 64.9 (SD = 10.3). Both samples were predominantly female, non-Hispanic white and well-educated. Average self-reported HbA1c was 6.9 (SD = 1.0; 52 mmol/mol) for T1Ds and 7.1 (SD = 1.1; 54 mmol/mol) for T2Ds. About 40% of respondents reported that all of their diabetes healthcare appointments at the time were cancelled or postponed, 40% reported a switch to telehealth appointments and almost half reported lower overall satisfaction with these visits (compared to pre-pandemic). There were widespread increases in general and diabetes-related stress and social isolation, and negative effects on disease management. About 25% reported increases in highs, lows, and glucose variability in both groups. Conclusion There has been a substantive increase in level of diabetes-related and general life stress and social isolation due to the pandemic, with a significant impact on disease management.

COVID-19 lockdown and lifestyles: A narrative review

“…Patients with coronary heart disease [228][229][230][231][232] , neurological disorders 233,234 , diabetes 235,236 and cancer 237,238 have had to compromise on their physical activity routine, dietary patterns, and social connectedness in particular 227,236,239,240 as did families with children who had chronic respiratory diseases 193,241 . Poor glycemic control in diabetics due to altered lifestyle was reported in many studies [242][243][244][245][246][247][248] , while one study in India reported an improvement in the glycemic status of patients with type II diabetes mellitus 249 . In a study from France, 45% of 195 patients with chronic heart disease had a >25% reduction in physical activity and 24% of patients had gained >2kg weight 229 .…”

Change in glucose‐lowering medication regimens in individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus during the COVID‐19 pandemic in Germany

“…[10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20] For example, a study in individuals diagnosed with T2DM and followed in a tertiary care centre in India, showed that only 24% met a physician during the lockdown (23 March to 23 June 2020), and that the vast majority of patients undergoing blood glucose monitoring (81%) had insufficient glycaemic control. 17 The deleterious impact of the ongoing pandemic on T2DM management probably involves the overload of healthcare systems 12,21 and delays in seeking medical care because of fear of contracting COVID-19. 22 Although previous studies have allowed a better understanding of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the care of people with diabetes, they have at least two major limitations.…”

Effect of COVID-19 on management of type 1 diabetes: Pushing the boundaries of telemedical healthcare

“…Data on telemedicine and type 2 diabetes in the COVID-19 era are still lacking. In a recently published study including 763 type 1 and 619 type 2 diabetics, about 40% of patients stated that all of their diabetes visits were cancelled or postponed, 40% were switched to telehealth consultations, while half reported lower overall satisfaction with these visits[ 16 ].…”