The long-term effects of COVID-19 infection and the pandemic period in patients with type 2 diabetes: a retrospective cohort study

Erturk A., Erarslan S., Onbası K.

GAZZETTA MEDICA ITALIANA ARCHIVIO PER LE SCIENZE MEDICHE, vol.185, no.4, pp.527-533, 2026 (Scopus)

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Our study aimed to examine the effects of severe coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) infection on metabolic parameters and blood sugar regulation in diabetic patients in the medium and long term.
METHODS: Patients diagnosed with diabetes who were admitted to internal medicine or endocrinology and metabolism polyclinics were screened between 01/02/2021 and 01/05/2021. Patients hospitalized due to COVID-19 infection were defined as group 1, and patients without COVID-19 were defined as group 2. This study included 127 patients (79 females and 48 males). Group 1 consisted of 64 patients, and group 2 consisted of 63 patients. Diabetes and other metabolic parameters of the patients were recorded at the 1st and 6th-month follow-ups. The results were analyzed statistically in all patients and between groups.
RESULTS: A statistically significant decrease was detected between glucosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) measured during the first and second diabetes control session in all patients (P<0.05). The total cholesterol, and low-density and high-density lipid values (P<0.05) increased considerably. In the patient group who had COVID-19, the HbA1c level was significantly lower during the second control session, and the total cholesterol, low-density lipid, and high-density lipid values showed significant increases (P<0.05). In the patient group who did not have COVID-19, HbA1c was significantly lower during the second control session, while the other parameters showed no significant differences.
CONCLUSIONS: In our study, COVID-19 infection did not have a negative effect on diabetes control in diabetic patients but caused dyslipidemia by increasing cholesterol levels.


KEY WORDS: Diabetes mellitus, type 2; COVID-19; Pandemics; Dyslipidemias