Pathophysiological relationship between Covid-19 and type 2 diabetes mellitus: a narrative review

Abstract

Objective: To understand the bidirectional pathophysiological interaction between Covid-19 and diabetes mellitus and how it interferes with the individual's homeostasis. Bibliographic review: The innate immune system is the first line of defense against Covid-19 and in patients with diabetes mellitus the system is compromised. In addition, in patients with diabetes mellitus, Covid-19 infection changes the morphology and functioning of pancreatic cells, reducing the amount of insulin-secreting granules and stimulating the secretion of this hormone by impaired glucose. In addition, the ineffectiveness of insulin causes a state of hyperglycemia in the diabetic and Covid-19 can lead to the worsening of insulin resistance, this resistance is characterized by a deregulation between the amount of insulin produced and the functioning. Therefore, it is imperative to control the glycemic rate in these patients to reduce the incidence of complications that the virus can cause. Final considerations: The 2019 Coronavirus is a new virus that still needs to be better studied due to its direct or indirect influence on the various organ systems as well as the association with other comorbidities such as diabetes mellitus.