Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic metabolic disorder requiring long-term management to prevent complications. The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted healthcare systems globally, necessitating adaptations in care delivery. This study explores the impact of the pandemic on DM care standards from 2019 to 2022 by examining process and outcome indicators.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted using a quantitative approach, analyzing 12 indicators of DM care standards among 9,423 adult patients diagnosed with type 1 or 2 diabetes mellitus attending an outpatient medical clinic.

Results: The results indicated consistently high scores for creatinine/ eGFR tests and low scores for referrals to clinic nutritionists. The lipid profile check-up indicator displayed a declining trend in measurements. Most indicators showed increased positive scores in DM care standards after the COVID pandemic (2022), with the exception of the lipid profile check-up.

Discussion: The findings suggest that while some aspects of DM care have improved, other areas, such as nutritional counseling and lipid profile check-ups, require further attention. Addressing these gaps is crucial for ensuring comprehensive and effective DM management, which involves raising awareness among healthcare providers and providing necessary resources and support.

Full-Text PDF