Diabetes telemedicine clinic implementation during the COVID-19 virus outbreak in Saudi Arabia

Background: Saudi Arabia implemented a nationwide lockdown to slow the spread of the COVID-19 after a global pandemic has been declared by the World Health Organization. Diabetes patients are one of the most vulnerable chronic illness groups to the complications of COVID-19 virus, thus the necessary to implement a tele-medicine clinic during the lockdown. Methods: A cross-sectional observational study, the study was done during the period from October to December 2020. We used convenience sampling to select participants who attended the clinics of the Diabetes Care Center at King Salman Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. A total of 375 patients participated in the study. Results: The study included 375 participants around 60% were female participants. The age of almost one-third of them (33.9%) ranged between 51 and 60 years. Most of the participants were type 2 diabetic patients (85.3%), and lived in Riyadh city (97.6%). Vast majority of participants (99.5%) were follow-up patients and reported telemedicine visit by physicians (98.9%). Patients’ satisfaction questions showed that majority of the participants either strongly agreed or agreed with the statements that they were satisfied with the quality of the audio during the virtual visit (92%), use of telemedicine was essential in maintaining health during the COVID-19 outbreak (90.1%), the quality of the medical care provided during the virtual visit (88.3%), the clarity of the management plan discussed with the heath care practitioner during the virtual visit (87.7%), the tele-medicine visit was as good as a regular in person visit (81.5%). Also, majority of the participants recommend making diabetes tele-medicine clinic as an available option for patients with diabetes after the COVID-19 outbreak is over (81.5%). Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic has urged the transition from in person clinical visits to tele-medicine clinics and showed that it is feasible and effective to have the option of tele-medicine for diabetes clinics in Saudi Arabia. The majority of diabetic patients reported high levels of satisfaction with the tele-medicine clinic.

Fibrocalculous pancreatic diabetes (FCPD)presenting as regression of puberty–a rare presentation of a rare disease

Here we present a case of young female who presented to us with secondary amenorrhea causing regression of puberty which is quite uncommon as a presentation of FCPD which is occasionally encountered in our day to day clinical practice. The aim of this communication is to keep a high index of suspicion and to keep FCPD as a possible aetiology which can lead to regression of puberty.

Diabetes and sesame: an insight about the benefits of sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) in curing diabetes

Diabetes in present era has become global as a lot of people are suffering from it including children. The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported that 347 million people worldwide suffer from diabetes, with about 3.4 million people dying in 2004 due to consequences of high fasting blood glucose. Diabetes killed 1.6 million people in 2018, up from less than 1 million in 2000 (WHO, 2018). It is predicted that in 2030, the seventh driving reason for death comprehensively will be diabetes. Diabetes can prompt an assortment of difficulties, including cardiovascular maladies, for example, coronary illness, vascular infection, cerebrovascular sickness, and numerous sorts of visual ailment, for example, retinopathy, nephropathy, and neuropath Sesame has for some time been viewed as a valuable herb. Impacts of sesame in lessening glycemia and improving the diabetes status and its entanglements have for some time been illustrated. In any case, barely any reports propose that sesame can help in improving cardiovascular inconveniences in diabetic patients, and along these lines requires further research.