COVID-19 and Diabetes: Unintended Medical, Financial and Societal Consequences

Abstract

Even In the absence of a pandemic, diabetes is a costly medical condition that can have a devastating impact on older adults. In
the current COVID-19 pandemic, the presence of diabetes among adults is well established a risk for longer hospitalizations and
likelihood of death. Beyond the direct combined health effects of COVID-19 and diabetes, the added financial strain, absence of
regular care due to physician office closures and social isolation has the potential to worsen diabetes outcomes. In this paper,
we explore the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on adults with diabetes and diabetes-related complications. This review
considers the financial, social and behavioral consequences of having diabetes during a global pandemic and the long-term
health implications for adults residing in a country where reducing your risk for contracting COVID-19 might in turn, increase your
risk of worsening long-term health outcomes. It also examines the financial implications of uncontrolled disease spread and the
wide-spread mortality among elderly Americans in conjunction with the combined effects of changes in diet, physical activity
and personal care caused by the pandemic.