Development of hypoglycemia in patients with COVID-19: coincidence or the result of treatment?

Abstract

Hypoglycemia is a common complication of diabetes mellitus (DM), which also complicates the course of COVID-19. The aim: The purpose of this work is to analyze the available scientific information on the causes and risk factors of hypoglycemia during the treatment of patients with COVID-19. Materials and methods. Full-text articles were searched and analysed in the PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and Scopus databases. The search was conducted using the keywords: "hypoglycemia in COVID-19 patients", "treatment of COVID-19 and hypoglycemia" and "COVID-19 vaccination and hypoglycemia" from the beginning of the pandemic in December 2019 to February 1, 2024. Results. The analysis of literary sources showed that hypoglycemia can occur when using drugs from many pharmacotherapeutic groups for the treatment and vaccination of patients with COVID-19. In addition, patients with DM often have chronic complications that contribute to hypoglycemia occurrence in the case of COVID-19. The lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic has further complicated the problem of hypoglycemia by restricting access to food, clinics, health services, and medicines. Conclusions: Hypoglycemia can be an incidental clinical finding. But it can also be a natural consequence of treatment if it is carried out without taking into account the possible hypoglycemic effects of drugs and without careful monitoring of the patient's condition. In the case of determining the program of treatment and vaccination against COVID-19 in patients with DM, the known and possible hypoglycemic effects of drugs and vaccines should be taken into account, the level of glycemia should be carefully controlled, and sudden changes in the type and dose of drugs, polypharmacy and the use of dangerous combinations of drugs should be avoided. _________________________________________________________________________________________ Keywords: COVID-19, hypoglycemia, treatment, vaccination