Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction

There are large number of patients of diabetes who require insulin to control their blood sugar. During the covid 19 lockdown, many medicines were not easily available and insulin being a life-saving and necessary medicines requires smooth availability. Non availability of insulin causes sugar fluctuations and anxiety in minds of patients and attendants and can affect well-being.

Methods

We surveyed 140 patients on insulin for their insulin availability and stress level were recorded using perceived stress score questionnaire during the period of COVID-19 Lockdown-1 from 5^th to 10^th april 2020.

Result

There was a difficulty in procuring insulin in the region surveyed which was reported by 73 % of respondents. The difficulty was more with analogues 88% as compared with regular insulins. Was more in rural areas 53 % as compared to urban areas. Almost 88 % of respondents had higher perceived stress scores due to this reason.

Discussion

There is pressing need to establish supply chains in a proper manner so that a patient need not face difficulty in procuring a lifesaving drug such as insulin. The need is more in Rural areas, and more with analogues so that the stress associated with scarcity of insulin can be alleviated.

Keywords: Insulin, analogue, nonavailability, perceived- stress, lockdown, covid-19.