ESPE Yearbook of Paediatric Endocrinology

Diabetes Metab Syndr. 2020;14(5):1213–1216. doi: 10.1016/j.dsx.2020.07.016

In this small cross-sectional study on 52 pediactric patients with T1D, a structured questionnaire was administered on follow up within 15 days after lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic. Of these 52 patients, 36.5% had hyperglycemic and 15.3% had hypoglycemic episodes. Insulin dose was missed in 26.9%, glucose monitoring was not performed routinely anymore in 36.5%, and 17.4% were not diet compliant during the lockdown period. Average blood glucose was higher during lockdown 276.9±64.7 mg/dl as compared to the pre-lockdown phase 212.3±57.9 mg/dl in the same patients. Mean HbA1c values were also much higher during lockdown (10±1.5%) than pre-lockdown (8.8±1.3%) and this difference was indeed statistically significant (P < 0.05).

There are numerous reports of suggested and potentially direct or indirect effects of the COVIC-19 infection or lockdown measures on diabetes control in children. According to questionnaires administered to these T1D patients and their caretakers, glycemic control of worsened during the lockdown period mainly due to non-availability of insulin and/or glucostrips. These data very strongly suggest that societies should learn their lessons from the pandemic and be aware of the fact that there is indeed a need for preparedness for epidemics/pandemics in the future so that complications in those already affected by disease can be kept at a low level (1).

Reference: 1. Kiess W, Poulain T, Jurkutat A, Kirstein A, Vogel M. Covid19 pandemic and pediatric endocrinology and metabolism - are we through with it? J Pediatr Endocrinol Metab. 2021;34(5):535–537. doi: 10.1515/jpem-2021-2133.