A Patient with Newly Diagnosed Hypertension and Pre-Existing Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Had a Confirmed COVID-19: A Case Report and Discussion (preprint)

ABSTRACT

COVID-19 aggravates pre-existing diabetes mellitus and contributes to newly discovered hypertension by increasing blood pressure by inhibiting the activity of angiotensin-converting enzymes 2 in the rennin-angiotensin system. Diabetes patients may be more vulnerable to COVID-19 due to chronic comorbidities such as obesity and cardiovascular disease such as hypertension. On March 23, 2022, a retired black African woman in her sixties was taken into the emergency room with the chief complaints of frequent midnight urine, hazy vision, headache, fever, and tingling in her hands and feet. A throat swab polymerase chain reaction test that revealed positive results after 28 hours was used to confirm COVID-19. Her electrocardiogram showed sinus tachycardia with a heart rate of 105 beats per minute. Fluid resuscitation (0.9% normal saline) of 1000 mL and drip insulin administration were commenced as soon as she was brought to an intensive care unit. In this case report, the patient had been previously diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus. COVID-19 affects the beta cells, forcing them to release insulin and increasing the insulin insufficiency, which leads to her blood glucose raising. Type 2 diabetes mellitus is therefore the most frequent comorbidity of COVID-19 in this case report. Poor blood glucose management in the case of COVID-19 may increase the pathogen's susceptibility, the likelihood that patients will be admitted to the hospital, and the likelihood that mortality will be enhanced.