medwireNews: COVID-19 restrictions do not significantly affect glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels in people with type 2 diabetes. However, people with poor psychological well-being may experience worsening blood sugar control, according to an Italian study.
The researchers compared data from 141 adults (mean age 68 years) who attended one of three diabetes centers during a COVID-19 lockout period and did not require intensification of their usual diabetes therapy, and 123 control persons with type 2 diabetes (mean age 69 years )) who visited the study centers 1 year earlier.
The median duration of illness in both groups was 13 years and 61% were men. For the lockdown group, base data was collected from December 2019 to March 2020 and follow-up data from June to July 2020. For the control group, the researchers used the same time frames in 2018-2019.
As reported in Diabetes, Obesity, and Metabolism, mean HbA1c levels decreased 0.1% from baseline to follow-up in both lockdown and control groups, and there was no significant difference in HbA1c levels at the follow-up examination at 7.3% (56) mmol / mol) compared to 7.4% (57 mmol / mol).
The BMI remained constant during the study period in the lockdown and control group with mean baseline values of 28.2 and 26.2 kg / m2, respectively. There were also statistically comparable decreases in glucose (6.0 vs 0.0 mg / dl) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (1.0 vs 2.0 mg / dl) from baseline to follow-up.
In a subgroup analysis, the researchers examined changes in HbA1c and BMI in people in the lockdown group with different levels of psychological well-being, as assessed using the Psychological General Well-Being Index (PGWBS). They found that people in the lowest tertile for the PGWBS score, indicating poorer mental health, experienced a deterioration in HbA1c and BMI during follow-up, while people in the highest tertile did not.
“[T]His findings suggest that patients with diabetes are at increased risk of psychological problems related to the pandemic, which can then translate into a significant deterioration in metabolic control. Health systems must therefore consider specific psychological support for this category, ”the researchers conclude.
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Diabetes Obes Metab 2021; doi: 10.1111 / dom.14380