Published online Nov 15, 2020. doi: 10.4239/wjd.v11.i11.481
Peer-review started: June 29, 2020
First decision: July 30, 2020
Revised: August 16, 2020
Accepted: October 5, 2020
Article in press: October 5, 2020
Published online: November 15, 2020
Processing time: 136 Days and 20.4 Hours
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak that occurred in late 2019 has posed a huge threat to the health of all humans, especially for individuals who already have diabetes mellitus (DM). DM is one of the most serious diseases that affect human health, with high morbidity and rates of complications. Medical scientists worldwide have been working to control blood sugar levels and the complications associated with sugar level alterations, with an aim to reduce the adverse consequences of acute and chronic complications caused by DM. Patients with DM face great challenges during the pandemic owing to not only changes in the allocation of medical resources but also their abnormal autoimmune status, which reduces their resistance to infections. This increases the difficulty in treatment and the risk of mortality. This review presents, from an epidemiological viewpoint, information on the susceptibility of patients with DM to COVID-19 and the related treatment plans and strategies used in this population.
Core Tip: Diabetes is one of the most common chronic diseases worldwide. Since November 2019, coronavirus disease 2019 has severely affected the routine care of a large number of patients with diabetes, hypertension, or coronary heart disease worldwide. Poor control of blood glucose may lead to secondary infection and acute complications, and the infection may also worsen the blood glucose. Therefore, it is necessary to manage diabetic patients during this period.