The correlation between COVID-19 severity and elevated level of serum glucose

The collision of COVID-19 and type 2 diabetes (T2D) highlights T2D as the second most prevalent comorbidity in COVID-19. This infection exacerbates complications in diabetics. It elevates blood glucose through excessive glucocorticoid and catecholamine release. This hyperglycemia triggers pro-inflammatory monocytes, heightens platelet reactivity, and amplifies cardiovascular deaths in diabetics. This cross-sectional study, conducted at Private Nursing Home Hospital in Baghdad, focused on 143 COVID-19 patients diagnosed via RNA detection in nasopharyngeal secretions using PCR from May to August 2021. The patients, aged 18 to 76, had no prior history of diabetes upon admission. An 86-member control group, free from COVID-19 and diabetes history, aged 20 to 73, was also included. BMI, platelet count, WBC, ESR, RBG, and serum levels of the alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels were measured. The results revealed statistically highly differences in RBG between the two groups ( p -value = 0.001), and significant variations in the Mean ± SD values of ALT and AST enzyme levels, as well as in WBC and ESR, when comparing COVID patients to non-COVID patients. In summary, our findings show a positive correlation between admission hyperglycemia and the risk of severe COVID-19, emphasizing the significance of monitoring and managing blood glucose levels. Effective glycemic control could aid in mitigating COVID-19 progression and is integral to comprehensive treatment. These glucose-related changes and COVID-19 impact on the pancreas may contribute to the development of T2D. • Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is the second most common comorbidity in COVID-19, exacerbating complications in diabetic patients. • COVID-19 infection raises blood glucose through excessive release of glucocorticoids and catecholamines, contributing to hyperglycemia. • Hyperglycemia activates pro-inflammatory monocytes, increases platelet reactivity, and raises cardiovascular mortality in diabetics. • A cross-sectional study was conducted in Baghdad on 143 COVID-19 patients (aged 18-76) and an 86-member control group (aged 20-73) with no prior history of diabetes or COVID-19. Parameters measured included BMI, RBG, platelet count, WBC, ESR, ALT, AST, and ALP. • Significant differences in random blood glucose (RBG), ALT, AST, WBC, and ESR levels were found between COVID-19 and non-COVID groups. Hyperglycemia was strongly correlated with severe COVID-19 outcomes. • The study underscores the importance of blood glucose management in mitigating COVID-19 progression and suggests that COVID-19 may contribute to the development of type 2 diabetes.