Abstract

Background and Objectives: Widespread, lockdowns were placed throughout the world due to the risk of COVID infection. This has caused, most of the population including those with chronic diseases to be restricted to their homes with the possibility of reduced physical activity and weight gain. The patients of diabetes mellitus are more prone to incur COVID 19 infection. The aim of the study was to determine the effect of this change in life style on their disease status. It will also help prepare the target population for possibilities of any future lockdowns.

Material & Methods: The study was conducted during the National Lockdown(s) with the help of voluntary collection of data regarding the glycaemic status, self-monitored by the participants at home. A questionnaire¹ designed to filter out biases and match the relevance of symptomatology was employed. Two groups were formed, one with digital monitoring of blood sugar and other with empirical symptomatology reporting. Data was collected over a period of 60 days during the first week of April to last week of May, 2020.

Results: Fifty five percent respondents were found to have significantly high blood glucose compared to before the lockdown, and nineteen percent had symptoms consistent with hyperglycaemia. In total 74 percent of  the surveyed were hyperglycaemic.

Interpretation and Conclusions: The survey studies have indicated that many patients of diabetes mellitus can be expected to have a deterioration in the glycaemic status and therefore worsened signs, symptoms and more complications of this disease. Clinicians will hence find it in good stride to correlate these complaints with the effects of lockdown.

Keywords: COVID, Diabetes, Hyperglycaemia, Lifestyle, Lockdown, SARS-CoV-2, Public Health.