Importance of hyperglycemia in COVID-19 intensive-care patients: Mechanism and treatment strategy

Abstract

This review reported that coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infected patients with short time bed rest or quarantine and airway inflammation are at more risk of developing hyperglycemia and insulin resistance. This condition can induce oxidative stress, decrease immune system function, impair endothelial function, induce apoptosis, and reduce antioxidant in the lungs. We provide a possible mechanism in severe COVID-19 patients and recommend treatment strategy to reduce mortality rate and prevent adverse outcomes after intensive care unit (ICU).

Keywords: COVID-19; Coronavirus; Diabetes; Hyperglycemia; Oxidative stress; SARS-CoV-2.

Fig. 1

Schematic structure of COVID-19. The spike glycoprotein is essential for virus entry into the cell.

Fig. 2

A three-dimensional (3D) structure of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

Fig. 3

Effect of different condition that can leads to hyperglycemia. TNF-α: tumor necrosis factor-α, NF-κB: Nuclear factor-κB, IL-: Interleukin- (IL-), IR: Insulin resistance, FFA: Free fatty acid.