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Updated: Jul 25, 2025

A High-Throughput Multiplexed Screening for Type 1 Diabetes, Celiac Diseases, and COVID-19
Published on: July 5, 2022
Type 1 diabetes patient experiences and management practices during the COVID-19 pandemic in rural Uganda
Wenceslaus Sseguya1, Steven James2,3, Manfred Bwambale4
1St. Francis Hospital Nsambya, Kampala, Uganda.
Background:
The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted various aspects of the lives of persons with chronic diseases, including type 1 diabetes (T1D). However, the diabetes care experiences and practices adopted by persons living with T1D after the declaration of the COVID-19 pandemic in Uganda have not been well documented.
Objectives:
We investigated diabetes management practices and experiences of persons with T1D during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown in a rural district of southwestern Uganda.
Methods:
Using interactive sequential explanatory mixed methods, we conducted a cross-sectional study of persons with T1D aged 18-25 years, their caregivers and health workers. Quantitative data was exclusively collected from patients with T1D using Kobo Toolbox™ and analysed with SPSS™ version 26; qualitative interviews were used to elicit responses from purposively selected patients with T1D, plus caregivers and health workers that were analysed using a thematic framework approach.
Results:
The study enrolled 51 (24 males) patients with T1D; diabetes duration (mean ± SD) 6.6 ± 5 years. Access to insulin syringes significantly worsened in 19.6% of participants (p = 0.03). Insulin injection frequency (p = 0.01), blood glucose monitoring (p = 0.001) and meal frequency (p = 0.0001) significantly decreased. Qualitative interviews highlighted COVID-19 restriction measures had reduced household income, frequency of clinic visits, and access to food, diabetes support and social services.
Conclusions:
Experiences and practices were consistent with decisions to prioritise survival, even with known risks around metabolic control.
Supplementary Information:
The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40200-023-01222-4.
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