Introduction:
“Long COVID” has been used in the literature to describe persisting symptoms in patients surviving severe COVID-19. Interim result of the Australian prospective study (the ADAPT study) showed 40% of the participants had ongoing fatigue, shortness of breath, and chest tightness after 9.8 weeks of diagnosis. The impact of COVID on diabetes long term is currently unknown.
Objective:
We previously characterised 8 patients with type 2 diabetes admitted to Westmead Hospital ICU with COVID-19 between 20 March and 1 May 2020. For this study, we aim to assess the impact of COVID-19 infection on glycaemic control of these patients 6-18 months after their initial COVID-19 diagnosis.
Methods:
We followed up on the glycaemic control and diabetes therapy used 6-18 months post COVID-19 infection. Medication list was confirmed through documentation in the COVID follow-up clinic. HbA1cs were obtained through the hospital and external pathology laboratories.
Results:
Eight out of nine patients with type 2 diabetes were admitted to Westmead Hospital ICU with COVID-19 in 2020. Mean HbA1c was 8.9 % at admission. All patients required high insulin doses during their peak inflammatory response. 6 to 18 months post COVID-19 infection, their mean Hba1c was 7.5%. Only one patient was on insulin prior to admission however four patients were discharged on insulin therapy. At time of analysis, only one patient remained on insulin therapy. Patients who were on oral hypoglycaemic agents at time of admission had not required escalation of therapy in this study. All patients had follow-up pulmonary function test and four patients had reduced total lung capacity. Their FEV1/FVC and diffusing capacity of lung were within normal limits.
Conclusion:
Our study showed no evidence of detrimental effects of COVID affecting their glycaemic control. Analysis on a bigger cohort of COVID patients in future is warranted for further investigation.