Management of Diabetes patients during COVID-19

Abstract

During COVID-19 pandemic, people with diabetes are up to three times more prone to become seriously ill or die from COVID-19 than others, as they are more susceptible to infections, vascular complications, comorbidities such as hypertension, dyslipidemia, cardiovascular disease and particularly to impaired immune function. Based on current medical and scientific evidence the rational use of oral hypoglycemic agents, ketone level measurement, plasma glucose monitoring, electrolytes test are essential in case of managing diabetes in COVID-19 pandemic for both in-patients and out-patients. The contribution of pharmacists for confirming better adherence to the diabetes pharmacotherapy and positive clinical outcomes, as well as teleconferencing to bridge the gap between geographical locations, and the role of pharmacovigilance has been identified as extremely important in this pandemic. Therefore, this paper aims to explain an overview of COVID-19 disease and its interrelationship with diabetes, possible treatment strategies as well as proper guidelines to manage diabetes.