The impact of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) on quality of life in diabetic patients
Abstract
Background. Diabetes is one of the most prevalent
metabolic diseases and it includes disabling complications
and chronic and invisible progression. On the one
hand, this disease imposes high financial expenses on
the patient and, on the other hand, reduces the quality
of life. Presently, the COVID-19 epidemic has been
an international concern, and evidence implies that
people who have the underlying disease are at higher
risk for the virus and will experience serious problems
if they develop the disease.
Methods. This research is a qualitative study with
a kind of phenomenological investigation that has
been conducted to investigate the patient’s experiences
and personal feelings with diabetes in terms of
the effects of corona disease on their quality of life. In
this study, the semi-structured interview method was
utilized to collect information. The number of sample
included 15 patients referred to health centers, and
each interview was recorded with the patient’s consent
and was written on paper and analyzed.
Results. The data of this study were classified into 6
main themes and 19 sub-themes after analysis. The
main themes of the information obtained from this
study included knowledge and awareness, psychological
effects, entertainment, and recreational programs,
patient’s family, medical care, and communication with
patients placing the greatest emphasis on medical care.
Stress caused by corona disease and depression were
the most important psychological effects expressed
by diabetic patients. They also expressed some serious
medical care problems, including the reduction
of referrals to health centers for follow-up and care
and the shortage of physicians and health personnel
to provide services.
Conclusion. This study suggests that diabetic patients
experience many different problems due to corona disease.
These problems influence the diabetic patients’
quality of life, so we need to understand better and
solve the diabetic patients’ problems, make more effort,
and perform more suitable planning to improve
their health and quality of life.
Keywords: COVID-19type 2 diabetes mellitusquality of life
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