Glycemic control in type 2 diabetic patients during the COVID-19 virus pandemic

Background: The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) disease is a pandemic disease spread worldwide and results in lifestyle changes in areas affected by COVID-19. The ongoing social distancing and lockdowns may negatively impact access to medical care and management of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Accordingly, we examined the impact of the COVID-19 virus pandemic in Thailand on the glycemic control of patients with T2DM.

Method: This study focused on T2DM outpatients at Rajavithi Hospital. Three hundred and fifty participants were included. Baseline characteristics, data on exercise, outdoor activities, and access to foods and blood chemistries, including hemoglobin A1C (A1C) and fasting plasma glucose (FPG), were reviewed, and collected from electronic medical records before and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Results: There was a significant increase in mean A1C (g/L) ± SD (74.8 ± 13.7 vs. 76.0 ± 15.3, p-value <0.016), the mean duration of outdoor activities (hours/day) ± SD during the COVID-19 virus pandemic was significantly decreased. (5.35 ± 4.48 vs. 4.03 ± 4.37, p-value <0.001)

Conclusion: The present study showed that mean A1C was significantly increased during the COVID-19 virus pandemic. Nevertheless, a statistical difference was not observed in FPG. The impact of quarantine, social distancing, and community containment during the epidemic on lifestyles may be the essential factor in increasing A1C.