Management of patients with diabetes and obesity in the COVID-19 era: Experiences and learnings from South and East Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a major effect on healthcare during 2020. Current evidence suggests that, while individuals with diabetes and obesity are no more prone to SARS-CoV-2 infection than those without, the risk of hospitalisation if someone has diabetes or obesity and then contracts COVID-19 is three times higher - and 4.5 times higher if they have diabetes and obesity. We assembled a panel of experts from South and East Europe, the Middle East, and Africa to discuss the challenges to management of diabetes and obesity during and post the COVID-19 pandemic. The experience and learnings of this panel cover a heterogeneous patient population, wide range of clinical settings, healthcare organisations, disease management strategies, and social factors. We discuss the importance of timely and effective disease management via telemedicine, providing reassurance and guidance for patients unable or unwilling to visit healthcare settings at this time. We address the use of novel therapies and their role in managing diabetes and obesity during the pandemic, as well as the importance of controlling hypoglycaemia and preventing cardiovascular complications, particularly in vulnerable people. Finally, we consider post-COVID-19 management of diabetes and obesity, and how these learnings and experiences should impact upon future clinical guidelines.

[COVID-19 pandemic and endocrinopathies].

Many endocrinopathies have chronic course; patients with endocrinopathies (above all diabetes mellitus and thyroid diseases) who receive outpatient care on a regular basis amount up to 80% of patients with chronic diseases. Endocrinologists most likely play the role of general practitioners for these patients; therefore, they should quickly and efficiently explain the patients with diabetes, thyroid, hypophysis and adrenal diseases how to behave in new setting of COVID19 pandemic (coronavirus infection). The most severe course of the infection can be observed in patients older than 65 years with chronic diseases, especially endocrinopathies. This review sums up the currently available data on the disease pathogenesis and progression. It also provides information about patient responsibility to prevent infection, special aspects of communication between the patient and the physician in the setting of self-isolation and quarantine, additional care needed in case of COVID19 in patients with most severe endocrinopathies.