COVID-19 patients with diabetes at higher risk for severe disease and even death. 

Smith College

- Individuals with diabetes tend to have an increased expression of ACE-2, which may put them at a greater risk of infection with SARS-CoV-2.
- Diabetes causes an increase in furin, a type-1 membrane-bound protease that is involved in the entry of coronaviruses into the cell. This increase in furin may facilitate viral replication.
- Impaired T-cell function in patients with diabetes may lead to an inability to fight off the infection.
-  Interleukin-6 (a protein important in cell signaling), is increased in individuals with diabetes and in those with COVID-19; overexpression of IL-6 results in inflammation (tocilizumab is being tested as a possible antibody against IL-6 receptors)

The Pathophysiology of Diabetes in Relation to COVID-19

Singh, A. K., Gupta, R., Ghosh, A., &amp; Misra, A. (2020). Diabetes in COVID-19: Prevalence, pathophysiology, prognosis and practical considerations. Diabetes &amp; Metabolic Syndrome: Clinical Research &amp; Reviews, 14(4), 303-310. doi:10.1016/j.dsx.2020.04.004
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1871402120300631

Diabetes in COVID-19: Prevalence, pathophysiology, prognosis and practical considerations

SARS-CoV-1 has been seen to cause hyperglycemia in people with pre-existing diabetes. Therefore, it is important to continually monitor the blood sugar of patients with diabetes who have contracted COVID-19.

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