Background: Patients with diabetes are at a particularly higher risk if their blood glucose is not controlled. Accordingly, understanding the factors contributing to diabetic control during lockdown is mandatory. This study aims to understand the impact of coronavirus disease 2019 lockdown on diabetic control of diabetic patients in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Methodology: This cross-sectional study used a questionnaire, which was filled by diabetic patients in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, about their diabetic control and compliance toward medications. The questionnaire consisted of four sections. The first section included demographic information; the second section evaluated diabetic control before lockdown. The third section evaluated diabetic control after lockdown, while the fourth section evaluated levels of stress and anxiety. Data analysis was executed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences 26.
Results: Three hundred and twenty-eight responders participated in this study. Males represented 50.7% and 26.3% were in the age group between 51 and 60 years. More than half of the responders (54.1%) were frontline workers. The mean score for compliance before the lockdown was 17.9 ± 4.3, while the mean score decreased to 16.9 ± 4.9. Higher scores indicated more compliance with medications and lifestyle. As for stress and anxiety, the mean score was 20 ± 9.3, where a higher score indicated lower levels of stress and anxiety. Diabetic control before the lockdown was significantly higher among patients with only one comorbidity (p-value = 0.048) and frontline workers (p-value = 0.003). While after lockdown, it was significantly higher among females (p-value < 0.001), patients with one comorbidity (p-value = 0.035), and non-frontline workers (p-value = 0.047).
Conclusion: The lockdown in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, reduced the compliance level of diabetic patients toward their disease. Similar studies are recommended in other areas in Saudi Arabia.
Key words: COVID-19, diabetes mellitus, diabetic control, lockdown, Saudi Arabia
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