Study on the effects of changes in lifestyle of patients with diabetes on glycaemic control before and after the declaration of the state of emergency in Japan

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the actual conditions of changes in lifestyle and treatment status of patients with diabetes before and after the declaration of the state of emergency issued in response to the novel coronavirus. METHODS: This study was a collaborative study in two diabetes clinics. A total of 1000 subjects responded to the questionnaire. In addition, data on HbA1c and body weight before and after the declaration of the state of emergency were collected. RESULTS: HbA1c levels significantly decreased from 7.28 ± 0.97% before the declaration of the state of emergency to 7.07 ± 0.86% after the declaration (p < 0.001). A significant decrease in HbA1c levels was also noted in both T2DM and T1DM. A factorial analysis of the change in HbA1c levels found that a high HbA1c level before the declaration was the most influential factor that made the HbA1c level more likely to decrease, with such factors including a good amount of exercise. A positive correlation with change in body weight was noted. Factors that made the HbA1c level less likely to decrease included stress felt about school closures for children, increased opportunities to eat out, increased food consumption, and refraining from exercise to avoid the “Three Cs” (crowded places, close-contact settings, and confined and enclosed spaces). CONCLUSION: In the absence of serious economic stagnation or completely disrupted distribution, patients are allowed time to do what they like and can probably improve their glycaemic control status if they see this time as an opportunity. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13340-021-00505-6.