A confirmed COVID-19 in a patient with newly diagnosed hypertension and preexisting type 2 diabetes mellitus: a case report

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) aggravates preexisting diabetes mellitus and contributes to newly discovered hypertension by increasing blood pressure by inhibiting the activity of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 in the rennin–angiotensin system. Diabetes patients may be more vulnerable to COVID-19 due to chronic comorbidities such as obesity and cardiovascular disease such as hypertension. CASE PRESENTATION: On 23 March 2022, a retired black African woman in her 60s was taken into the emergency room with the chief complaints of frequent midnight urine, hazy vision, headache, fever, and tingling in her hands and feet. A throat swab PCR test that revealed positive results after 28 h was used to confirm COVID-19. Her electrocardiogram showed sinus tachycardia with a heart rate of 105 beats per minute. Fluid resuscitation (0.9% normal saline) of 1000 ml and drip insulin administration commenced as soon as she was brought to an ICU. CLINICAL DISCUSSION: In this case report, the patient had been previously diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus. COVID-19 affects the beta cells, forcing them to release insulin and increasing insulin insufficiency, which leads to her blood glucose raising. Type 2 diabetes mellitus is therefore the most frequent comorbidity of COVID-19 in this case report. CONCLUSION: Poor blood glucose management in the case of COVID-19 may increase the pathogen’s susceptibility, the likelihood that patients will be admitted to the hospital, and the likelihood that mortality will be enhanced.