Covid-19 and glucometric variation in type 2 diabetes during the recovery protocol

Abstract

Introduction: Treatment to reduce mortality with dexamethasone for ten days in oxygen-requiring COVID-19 patients (RECOVERY protocol) may have the adverse effect of hyperglycemia, a factor associated with morbidity and mortality, as well as a history of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Objective: Describe the glycemic behavior in patients with a history of type 2 diabetes undergoing the RECOVERY protocol during their hospitalization for COVID-19. M ethodology: A descriptive and cross-sectional study obtained data from medical records of patients between 18 and 80 years old with a history of type 2 diabetes and COVID-19 infection hospitalized with the RECOVERY protocol from June 2020 to June 2022. Results: 41 subjects with a mean age of 62.1±10.3 years, where 39 % had blood glucose levels higher than 180 mg/ dL, the median glucose on admission was 159 mg/ dL, 170.5 mg/dL, after three days 170,5 mg/dL, seven days of 177 mg/dL and 146 mg/dL at discharge. Those under 65 years of age, those stratified with CURB of 2 or more, had higher blood glucose on days 3 and 7. Conclusions: During the administration of dexamethasone, blood glucose levels on days 3 and 7 were higher. Stricter blood glucose monitoring is required, especially on the aforementioned days, in patients with diabetes undergoing the RECOVERY protocol. © 2024 National Academy of Medicine. All rights reserved.