Diabetes with Viral Pneumonia: Epidemiological Characteristics, Pathophysiological Mechanisms, and Clinical Management Strategies

© 2025 by the Author. Licensee Whioce Publishing, Singapore. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ )

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Abstract

Diabetes is one of the susceptibility risk factors for viral pneumonia, particularly during COVID-19 pandemic. Patients with diabetes are more likely to develop severe disease following infection and face a markedly increased risk of complications, substantially increasing the healthcare burden. The primary mechanism involves persistent hyperglycemia impairing immune system function through multiple pathways, promoting excessive inflammatory responses, and thereby exacerbating lung tissue damage. Research indicates that effective glycemic control and vaccination can substantially reduce mortality rates and the risk of severe disease progression in diabetic patients with viral pneumonia. This review aims to summarize the clinical associations, immunopathological mechanisms, and prevention strategies related to diabetes and viral pneumonia, providing a theoretical basis for improving patient outcomes.

Keywords

COVID-19

Diabetes

Influenza virus

Pneumonia

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