ABSTRACT
This article reviews the association between diabetes mellitus (DM) and COVID-19. We report on the convergence of infectious diseases such as coronavirus infections and non-communicable diseases including DM. The mechanisms for the interaction between COVID-19 and DM are explored, and suggestions for the management of DM in patients with COVID-19 in South Africa are offered
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Diabetes MellitusABSTRACT
The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged the provision of healthcare in ways that are unprecedented in our lifetime. Planning for the sheer numbers expected during the surge has required public hospitals to de-escalate all non-essential clinical services to focus on COVID-19. Western Cape Province was the initial epicentre of the COVID-19 epidemic in South Africa (SA), and the Cape Town metro was its hardest-hit geographical region. We describe how we constructed our COVID-19 hospital-wide clinical service at Groote Schuur Hospital, the University of Cape Town's tertiary-level teaching hospital. By describing the barriers and enablers, we hope to provide guidance rather than a blueprint for hospitals elsewhere in SA and in low-resource countries that face similar challenges now or during subsequent waves
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Delivery of Health Care , Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus , South AfricaABSTRACT
The pancreas in a non-diabetic patient constantly secretes a small amount of insulin (basal secretion). After meals; a larger amount of insulin is secreted (bolus secretion) to cope with the increased blood glucose that occurs following a meal. The goal of insulin therapy in diabetics is to mimic this secretion pattern to provide enough insulin throughout a 24-hour period to meet the basal requirements and to deliver higher boluses of insulin to meet the glycaemic effect of meals. To achieve good diabetes control; an individually tailored insulin treatment regimen is required