April 20, 2020
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The German Diabetes Association (DDG) warns that the changes in clinical care in favor of infectiological measures will result in dangerous undersupply in Germany for chronically ill people and people with acute complaints. “In recent weeks, the health policy focus has been so much on COVID-19 patients that chronically and acutely ill people now run the risk of getting under the wheels,” warns DDG President Prof. Dr. med. Monika Kellerer.
Doctors from endocrinology and diabetology are currently seeing a sharp decline in the number of patients in surgeries, outpatient clinics and emergency outpatient clinics, reports the DDG. In some places, diabetes departments were even closed in favor of the care of patients with COVID-19. As a result, urgent preventive and treatment appointments would often be postponed not only by the patients, but also by the clinics and medical practices.
“There is great public uncertainty. Many people no longer notice important medical appointments or stay at home in the event of acute complaints – out of consideration for the health system, due to misunderstood exit restrictions or for fear of infection with the coronavirus, ”says the medical director of the Center for Internal Medicine I at the Marienhospital in Stuttgart . In particular, people with poorly controlled diabetes and complications from diabetes such as cardiovascular diseases, high blood pressure, kidney diseases, polyneuropathy and vascular diseases have a more severe course of the disease than those without diabetes.
In order for people with diabetes to get through the corona pandemic well, it is now particularly important that they receive therapy in line with guidelines with regard to their metabolic setting and their complications. “As an endocrinologist, I am also worried about people with pituitary and adrenal diseases, as they can get into life-threatening emergency situations, such as an Addison crisis, particularly quickly as a result of infectious diseases,” explains Kellerer. In this case, Addison’s disease suffers from severe circulatory disorders that can lead to a coma. “It is true that resources are still tied up by severe COVID 19 cases, particularly in the internal area. However, we still have sufficient capacity to effectively treat patients with other internal diseases and complaints, ”encourages Kellerer. It calls for the symptoms of illness to be taken seriously. In particular, diabetes patients with multiple illnesses should seek medical help immediately if their blood sugar levels are bad or their health changes.
Kellerer points out that it may take a year or more before the population is sufficiently “infected” and / or a vaccine is available. Until then, the chronic diseases could not be left untreated or underserved. In diabetes in particular, an initially harmless-looking infection on the foot can lead to a later amputation if the treatment is delayed. Therefore a prudent return to a certain normality in patient care is advisable. The DDG points out that specialists in endocrinology and diabetology continue to be available for the care of their patients and have appropriate resources.
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