National Inpatient Diabetes COVID-19 Response Group is launched

A National Inpatient Diabetes COVID-19 Response Group has been launched for diabetes specialist teams and those involved in delivering care to people with diabetes on the frontline. 

Chaired by Professor Gerry Rayman, the group has already published its first document, Concise Advice on Inpatient Diabetes (COVID: Diabetes) Front Door Guidance document.

The clinical guidance has been pulled together with insight from clinical leads across UK centres which has so far gathered the  greatest experience of looking after people with COVID-19.

COVID-19 among people with or without previously recognised diabetes increases the risk of emergency states of hyperglycaemia with ketones, Diabetic KetoAcidosis (DKA) and Hyperosmolar Hyperglycaemic State (HHS).

Being acutely unwell with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 requires adjustment to standard approaches to diabetes management.

The COVID-19 guidance document lays out clinical advice for early admissions, those who are severely unwell when admitted to hospital, all inpatient areas and ICU scenarios. As new evidence becomes available, the document will be updated. It is supported by Diabetes UK and ABCD.

To access to the document, click here.

Picture credit: Ashkan Forouzani