DIABETES CARE PECULIARITIES AND MANAGEMENT DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC: A REVIEW OF CURRENT GUIDELINES

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus, the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19, was first reported in Wuhan, China, in December 2019 and has spread worldwide. The fatality rate for COVID-19 has been estimated to be 0.5-1.0%. The presence of diabetes mellitus and the individual degree of hyperglycaemia seem to be independently associated with COVID-19 severity and increased mortality. Furthermore, the presence of typical complications of diabetes mellitus (heart failure and chronic kidney disease) increases COVID-19 mortality. During a relatively short time of pandemic several guides have been developed concerning diabetic care during COVID-19 pandemic in the world. According to the UK NHS clinical guide, there is a need of virtual clinics and remote consultations, with as many contacts as possible performed via telephone, email, and video conferencing to target the diabetes adequate care. It is mentioned, that, except the urgent situations, the services which should be continued, as long as pragmatic and possible, comprise diabetes patients who are pregnant and those with diabetic foot problem.