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Supporting People with Diabetes and Related Conditions in the Time of COVID-19

By Mohamed Eid, M.D., M.P.H, M.H.A, Vice President of Clinical Development & Medical Affairs, Cardio-Metabolism & Respiratory Medicine

Every year, my colleagues and I look forward to the American Diabetes Association’s (ADA) Scientific Sessions as a meaningful time to collaborate and discuss the latest innovations and breakthrough science. These important interactions maximize our joint efforts at helping improve the lives of the roughly 30 million people living with diabetes in the United States; and the millions more elsewhere.

This year’s sessions will be noticeably different with a virtual setting in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. As we adapt to this new congress format, it is especially crucial for us to come together, virtually, to identify novel approaches and enabling technologies on how we can better support the diabetes community, including new methods of connecting with each other.

Viral infections such as COVID-19 are particularly risky for certain patient populations, including those with diabetes. People with diabetes are twice as likely to be hospitalized for heart failure, and 30-40% of people with diabetes have chronic kidney disease. While people with diabetes are not more likely to get COVID-19 infection than the general population, their diabetes and its associated comorbidities may increase their risk of worse outcomes or severe complications from COVID-19. Effectively managing their condition, controlling their blood sugars, properly addressing coexisting diseases, preparing a sick day management plan and following the CDC’s guidelines can help people with diabetes continue to stay safe during this crisis.1

We recognize the importance of supporting this community now more than ever and are proud to be a founding partner of Know Diabetes by Heart, a collaborative initiative led by the ADA and the American Heart Association that aims to reduce cardiovascular deaths, heart attacks, heart failure and strokes in people living with type 2 diabetes. Know Diabetes by Heart has provided healthcare professionals with online resources to help them help their patients manage their diabetes and mitigate the risk of severe complications from COVID-19.

The Know Diabetes by Heart website currently offers the following educational resources for healthcare professionals to use while caring for the diabetes community during COVID-19:

For more information on how COVID-19 may impact people with diabetes, visit knowdiabetesbyheart.org.

While we would prefer to be together in person over the coming days for the ADA, we know that the best thing most of us can do at the moment to protect our colleagues, patients and families is to stay home. We are grateful to all of the frontline workers who are keeping us safe, and we remain dedicated to our efforts to advancing diabetes care and provide COVID-19 relief and scientific support.

References

  1. How COVID-19 impacts people with diabetes | American Diabetes Association. https://www.diabetes.org/coronavirus-covid-19/how-coronavirus-impacts-people-with-diabetes. Accessed May 17, 2020

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Supporting People with Diabetes and Related Conditions in the Time of COVID-19