Abstract:
Coronavirus disease—COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) has become the cause of the global pandemic in
the last three years. Its etiological factor is SARS-CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus type 2). Patients
with diabetes (DM—diabetes mellitus), in contrast to healthy people not suffering from chronic diseases, are characterised by
higher morbidity and mortality due to COVID-19. Patients who test positive for SARCoV-2 are at higher risk of developing
hyperglycaemia. In this paper, we present, analyse and summarize the data on possible mechanisms underlying the increased
susceptibility and mortality of patients with diabetes mellitus in the case of SARS-CoV-2 infection. However, further
research is required to determine the optimal therapeutic management of patients with diabetes and COVID-19. Kidney
impairment in hospitalized patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection is associated with increased in-hospital mortality and worse
clinical evolution, raising concerns towards patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). From a pathophysiological
perspective, COVID-19 is characterized by an overproduction of inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, TNF-alpha), causing
systemic inflammation and hypercoagulability, and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome.
