Home-Based Exercise During the Coronavirus Pandemic A Useful, yet Challenging Treatment Strategy for Improvement of Mental Health, Glycemic Control and COVID-19 Outcomes in Patients With Diabetes

• Published in: Southeastern European medical journal (Online) Vol. 7; no. 1; pp. 28 - 35
• Main Authors: Ivandić, Marul, Mrzljak, Anna, Cigrovski, Vjekoslav, La Grasta Sabolić, Lavinia, Ormanac, Klara, Sabo, Dea, Omanović Kolarić, Tea, Ružić, Lana, Bilić Ćurčić, Ines, Cigrovski Berković, Maja
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Medicinski fakultet Osijek 30.04.2023; Faculty of Medicine Osijek
• Subjects: COVID-19; diabetes; home-based exercise; mental health; physical activity
• ISSN: 2459-9484; 2459-9484
• DOI: 10.26332/seemedj.v7i1.269

Lockdown measures to control disease transmission were implemented at the start of the COVID-19 era, worsening the already existing sedentary lifestyle. Reduced physical activity (PA) and unhealthy eating habits have a negative impact on mental health in chronically ill patients, including diabetes patients. Mental illness, on the other hand, encourages a sedentary lifestyle, exacerbating all components of metabolic syndrome. While well-controlled diabetic patients with an HbA1c of less than 7% had a less severe clinical presentation and COVID-19 mortality rates, the favorable effect of PA on immunomodulation and immunoregulation should not be neglected. Given recent data indicating that a sedentary lifestyle is the third independent risk factor for COVID-19 complications and death (after advanced age and organ transplant), including regular PA has never been more vital. Since PA has a major impact on both glycemic control and mental health, implementing structured home-based activity programs could improve glycemic control and psychological well-being, hence positively impacting COVID-19 outcomes.