Role of Tele-physical Therapy in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Following COVID-19 Infection.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic metabolic disease where the body is unable to metabolize carbohydrates properly either due to a lack of insulin production or abnormal insulin function. In recent times, it has been considered a global healthcare concern because of its high prevalence rate (9.2 %) and other associated health consequences. After being infected with Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19), the Type 2 Diabetes mellitus (T2DM) sufferer experiences the following symptoms; reduced exercise tolerance, decreased muscle strength, altered respiratory functions, cognitive impairments and abnormal psychosomatic behaviour, which affects the overall well-being of the patient. To prevent or delay these clinical features and the associated consequences of type 2 Diabetes mellitus, the regular body works out and physical training is suggested either alone or in combination with diet modification. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that 12 months of supervised tele-physical therapy can positively influence patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus following COVID-19 infection. The reports of the study would be helpful for the clinicians and the physical therapists to make this as evidence for using tele-physical therapy in type 2 Diabates mellitus patients.

Inclusion Criteria:Participants between 18-60 years of age and being diagnosed with COVID-19 with mild dyspnea and type 2 DM and the ability to use smart mobile phones were selected to be included in the study.Exclusion Criteria:Participants who had neurological (radiculopathy, myelopathy and disc problems) and orthopedic problems, cardio-pulmonary diseases (stroke, hypertension and syncope), other metabolic and endocrinal problems, metastasis, pregnancy, taking analgesics or corticosteroids, any contra indications to physical exercises (fracture, instability, osteoporosis, arthropathy and neural symptoms) and cognitive and mental disorder were excluded.