Diabetes patient
Diabetes patients are more at risk than the general population of viral
or bacterial infections. The immune system compromised by the metabolic
pathology is characterized by a reduced response and effectiveness of
neutrophil and T lymphocyte activity, and by the lack of an adequate
humoral immune response, which make the patient with diabetes at high
risk of viral or bacterial infection especially in the airways. (3) (4).
People with diabetes are therefore at increased risk of both COVID-19
infection and increased complications and mortality. General precautions
to prevent COVID-19 infection are essential for people with diabetes.
Patients with diabetes need continuous and regular blood glucose
monitoring and optimal compliance with ongoing drug treatment, even in
case of COVID-19 infection. For patients with severe COVID-19 diabetes,
drugs such as glyptins, incretin mimetics or SGLT2 inhibitors can safely
continue to be taken, and Ace inhibitors/ARB antihypertensives should
also continue to be taken, unless contraindications or further evidence
against their use develop. In particular, the diabetic patient has a
higher risk of pneumonia mortality than the general population. In
addition, during the SARS-Cov epidemic in 2003 similar to COVID-19,
diabetes was identified as a risk factor for mortality from infection.
Similarly, in another similar epidemic, such as MERS, the presence of
diabetes was a risk factor for infection and serious complications. (5)
(6). Similarly, among patients with influenza A (H1N1) in 2009, diabetes
increased the risk of complications. (7).