Diabetes and COVID-19: What 2 Years of the Pandemic Has Taught Us

As the world enters its third year of the COVID-19 pandemic, individuals with diabetes have faced particular challenges from the virus. A deleterious bidirectional relationship exists between the two disorders, with heightened inflammatory, immunologic, and cellular mechanisms leading to a more severe illness and increased morbidity and mortality. Tight glucose control, though necessary, is hampered by physical restrictions and difficulty accessing health care. Novel glucose-lowering medications may provide unique benefits in this regard. It is imperative that multi-pronged efforts be prioritized in order to reduce adverse outcomes in patients with diabetes at risk for COVID-19.

Automated summary

As the world battles through the third year of the COVID-19 pandemic, individuals with diabetes face unique challenges due to a harmful bidirectional relationship between the two disorders. Tight glucose control is hindered by physical limitations and limited access to healthcare, while novel glucose-lowering medications could offer specific advantages. It is crucial to prioritize a multi-faceted approach to reduce negative outcomes in diabetes patients at risk for COVID-19.