Impact of covid-19 lockdown on glycemic control in patients with type 1 diabetes

Fernández, Elsa; Cortazar, Alicia; Bellido, Virginia

INTRODUCTION: The COVID-19 pandemic has forced governments to take exceptional measures to minimize its spread, imposing lockdown policies. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of lockdown on type 1 diabetes (T1D) glycemic control. MATERIAL AND METHODS: People with T1D using flash glucose monitoring were included. Data from the 14 days before lockdown were compared with data from the last 14 days after 8 weeks of lockdown. RESULTS: A total of 307 patients were included (age 45.8±12.6 years, 50.2% male, diabetes duration 21.1±12.3 years). Only one patient had COVID-19 infection. Mean glucose decreased from 166.89±29.4 mg/dL to 158.0±29.0 and estimated HbA1c declined from 7.4±1.0 to 7.1±1.0% (54±10.9 vs 57±10.9 mmol/mol; p<0.001). Time in range increased from 57.8±15.8 to 62.46±16.1%. Time in hyperglycemia >180 mg/dL and >250 mg/dL decreased from 37.3±1.9% to 32.0±17.1% and from 13.0±11.3 to 10.3±10.6%, respectively; (p<0.001). Time in hypoglycemia <70mg/dL increased from 4.9±4.0% to 5.5±4.4% (p<0.001). No differences in time <54 mg/dl, coefficient of variation (CV%) or number of scans per day were found. CONCLUSION: Despite the limitations of lockdown, glycemic control improved in patients with T1D. These results suggest that having more time for self-management may help improve glycemic control in the short term.