Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on glycemic regulation in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients and evaluation of diabetes distress scale

Diabetes and COVID-19 have significant impacts on healthcare, with worse outcomes for individuals affected by both conditions. The study design is an observational before and after study design used to assess the effect of Covid-19 pandemic on glycemic regulation in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in Turkey. Data were collected through medical records and structured questionnaire over telephone interviews. A total of 70 patients were interviewed, and data from 42 patients were analyzed. The majority of participants were males (61.4%), married (80.6%), with a mean age of 58.2 years, 48.6% had completed high school education or higher. 24.3% were employed. The majority (79.1%) demonstrated a high level of compliance with medication-taking behavior. The majority of the participants (92.7%) reported low stress. The analysis revealed no statistically significant relationship between exercising and HbA1C levels, both before and after the COVID-19 pandemic (p = 0.128, p = 0.869, respectively). No significant association was found between contracting COVID-19 and HbA1C levels (p = 0.846). Additionally, no significant relationship was observed between COVID-19 infection and compliance with medication (p = 0.543). Moreover, no significant differences were found in HbA1C and fasting blood glucose levels between the pre-pandemic and pandemic periods (p = 0.883, p = 0.513, respectively). These findings highlight the need for ongoing support and interventions for individuals with diabetes during health crises. Keywords: Diabetes, COVID-19, Type 2 diabetes mellitus, Glycemic regulation, Pandemic impact