New Guidance on Managing Inpatient Hyperglycaemia during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Dexamethasone use and insulin requirements in coronovirus-19 (COVID-19) infection stratified by Hemoglobin A1c

Aims

The study aimed to identify weight-based insulin requirements for dexamethasone-induced hyperglycemia in COVID-19 infection stratified by hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c).

Methods

This retrospective study assessed hospitalized patients ≥ 18 years admitted with COVID-19 and receiving ≥ 1 dose of dexamethasone 6 mG. Daily blood glucose (BG) and insulin doses were collected and organized by HbA1c.

Results

Among 45 patients with available HbA1c, 100% [HbA1c ≥ 7%] and 72% [HbA1c < 7%] developed hyperglycemia (BG ≥180 mG/dL). Median daily insulin (Interquartile Range) (units/kG/day) was 0.03 (0, 0.32) [HbA1c 6–6.9%], 0.1 (0.06, 0.36) [HbA1c 7–7.9%], 0.66 (0.39, 0.69) [HbA1c 8–8.9%], and 0.72 (0.63, 0.78) [HbA1c ≥ 9%]. On day 10 of dexamethasone, when majority of patients were at goal BG, patients required 0.07 (0.01, 0.31) [HbA1c 6–6.9%], 0.59 (0.11, 0.75) [HbA1c 7–7.9%], 1.15 (0.95, 1.35) [HbA1c 8–8.9%], and 1.14 units/kG/day [HbA1c ≥ 9%]. Of 24 patients completing 10 days of dexamethasone, 25% experienced hypoglycemia (BG < 70 mG/dL) upon discontinuation.

Conclusion

Patients with higher HbA1c experienced greater dexamethasone-induced hyperglycemia and required higher insulin doses. Inpatient insulin dosing algorithms should take into consideration baseline HbA1c to avoid delays in achieving normoglycemia.

Control of blood glucose levels by an artificial pancreas in patients with severe coronavirus disease 2019 pneumonia

BACKGROUND

Many patients with severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia experience hyperglycemia. It is often difficult to control blood glucose (BG) levels in such patients using standard intravenous insulin infusion therapy. Therefore, we used an artificial pancreas. This study aimed to compare the BG status of the artificial pancreas with that of standard therapy.

METHODS

Fifteen patients were included in the study. BG values and the infusion speed of insulin and glucose by the artificial pancreas were collected. Arterial BG and administration rates of insulin, parenteral sugar, and enteral sugar were recorded during the artificial pancreas and standard therapy. The target BG level was 200 mg/dl.

RESULTS

Arterial BG was highly correlated with BG data from the artificial pancreas. A higher BG slightly increased the difference between the BG data from the artificial pancreas and arterial BS. No significant difference in arterial BG was observed between the artificial pancreas and standard therapy. However, the standard deviation with the artificial pancreas was smaller than that under standard therapy (p < 0.0001). More points within the target BG range were achieved with the artificial pancreas (180-220 mg/dl) than under standard therapy. The hyperglycemic index of the artificial pancreas (8.7 ± 15.6 mg/dl) was lower than that of standard therapy (16.0 ± 21.5 mg/dl) (p = 0.0387). No incidence of hypoglycemia occurred under the artificial pancreas.

CONCLUSIONS

The rate of achieving target BG was higher using artificial pancreas than with standard therapy. An artificial pancreas helps to control BG in critically ill patients.

Impact of diabetes on COVID-19 and other infection: Report from the 22nd Hong Kong Diabetes and Cardiovascular Risk Factors-East Meets West Symposium

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has posed enormous challenges to healthcare systems worldwide. The negative impact of COVID-19 is widespread and includes not only people who contracted the disease but also those with chronic morbidities such as diabetes whose care is compromised due to diversion of medical resources. People with diabetes are generally more susceptible to infection as a result of altered immunity. People with diabetes have a worse prognosis from COVID-19 and there is evidence to suggest that severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 may directly affect pancreatic function precipitating hyperglycaemic crises. In the United Kingdom, one of the most heavily affected countries, guidelines are in place to unify the management of people with diabetes hospitalized for COVID-19. Diabetes services are re-organized to ensure that medical care of people with diabetes is maintained despite resource and other practical constraints. Public health measures including social distancing, hand hygiene and the use of face masks are crucial in containing community transmission of the virus. Hong Kong, one of the most densely populated city in the world, is particularly vulnerable and has in place a stringent containment policy and aggressive contact tracing to ensure public safety during this pandemic.

Inpatient Hyperglycemia Management and COVID-19

Diabetes is one of the most common comorbidities in hospitalized patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Inpatient hyperglycemia during this pandemic has been associated with worse outcomes, so it is mandatory to implement effective glycemic control treatment approaches for inpatients with COVID-19. The shortage of personal protective equipment, the need to prevent staff exposure, or the fact that many of the healthcare professionals might be relatively unfamiliar with the management of hyperglycemia may lead to worse glycemic control and, consequently, a worse prognosis. In order to reduce these barriers, we intend to adapt established recommendations to manage hyperglycemia during this pandemic in critical and noncritical care settings.

Endocrine and metabolic aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic

COVID-19 infection has tremendously impacted our daily clinical practice as well as our social living organization. Virtually all organs and biological systems suffer from this new coronavirus infection, either because the virus targets directly specific tissues or because of indirect effects. Endocrine diseases are not an exception and some of endocrine organs are at risk of direct or indirect lesion by COVID-19. Although there is still no evidence of higher predisposition to contract the infection in patients with diabetes and/or obesity, the coexistence of these conditions contributes to a worse prognosis because both conditions confer an impaired immunologic system. Cytokines storm can be amplified by these two latter conditions thereby leading to multisystemic failure and death. Glycaemic control has been demonstrated to be crucial to avoiding long hospital stays, ICU requirement and also prevention of excessive mortality. Endocrine treatment modifications as a consequence of COVID-19 infection are required in a proactive manner, in order to avoid decompensation and eventual hospital admission. This is the case of diabetes and adrenal insufficiency in which prompt increase of insulin dosage and substitutive adrenal steroids through adoption of the sick day's rules should be warranted, as well as easy contact with the health care provider through telematic different modalities. New possible endocrinological targets of COVID-19 have been recently described and warrant a full study in the next future.

Management of patients with comorbidity during novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. National Consensus Statement 2020

The pandemic of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), caused by SARS‑CoV‑2, has become a challenge to healthcare systems in all countries of the world. Patients with comorbidity are the most vulnerable group with the high risk of adverse outcomes. The problem of managing these patients in context of a pandemic requires a comprehensive approach aimed both at the optimal management in self-isolated patients not visiting medical facilities, and management of comorbidities in patients with COVID-19. The presented consensus covers these two aspects of managing patients with cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, gastrointestinal disease, and also pay attention to the multiple organ complications of COVID-19.