Guidance on ensuring basic and secure diabetes services are maintained during the coronavirus pandemic has been published. The National Inpatient Diabetes COVID-19 Response Group has released the Maintaining Acute Diabetes Services in response to COVID-19 document to provide detail on how maintenance of a level of specialist diabetes service can be achieved during this public health crisis. It has also compiled the Template for defining diabetes services during COVID-19 Pandemic, which is based on the NHS ‘Clinical guide for the management of acute diabetes during the coronavirus pandemic’. The body of the document has been retained but space has been provided for you to populate to describe local arrangements. Concise advice on managing hyperglycaemia and DKA in inpatients with diabetes during the coronavirus pandemic is now available. The National Inpatient Diabetes COVID-19 Response Group, which has been set up to support diabetes teams in their reorganisation, has published the guidance: A COVID-19 Response Action Plan has been drafted to support clinical decision-making in care homes in an effort to reduce morbidity and mortality among residents with diabetes. The document, 'A Covid-19 Response Action – Diabetes Management in Care Homes', was drafted by a multidisciplinary stakeholder group with input from the Joint British Diabetes Societies (JBDS) for Inpatient Care group, the Association of British Clinical Diabetologists (ABCD), Diabetes UK and Diabetes Frail. Obesity has been found to increase the severity of COVID-19 but more data collection is needed to better understand how one condition impacts the other, researchers said. In China, co-morbidities among people aged 65 or older was also associated with a more acute bout of coronavirus. Obesity plays a critical role in the severity of COVID-19 among the under 60s, researchers have said. Data published from a New York medical team has shown that among those aged under 60, obesity was twice as likely to result in being admitted to hospital for coronavirus. Roche Diabetes Care has today confirmed that the Accu-Chek Aviva strip will not be discontinued, amid rumours that it may cease production following the phasing out of the Accu-Chek Aviva Expert meter. An estimated 75,000 people in the UK and Ireland use the Accu-Chek Aviva strip every month to monitor their blood glucose and support their diabetes management decisions. Early management of type 2 diabetes and heart failure in people with the conditions are two of the next subjects due to be covered by a webinar series to provide education during the coronavirus pandemic. The 'Managing Diabetes' series of virtual meetings have been organised by AstraZeneca, with one taking place tomorrow (April 29) and four more scheduled for next month, from May 6 to May 19. Abbott has released infographics which signpost support and resources to help existing and new users of the FreeStyle Libre. The graphics, one for healthcare professionals and another for people with diabetes, are in response to the disruption caused by the coronavirus pandemic to clinics and consultations. Diabetes should be considered as a “risk factor” for the rapid progression and bad prognosis of COVID‐19, researchers have said. To read more, click here. A Metabolic Medicine professor has been awarded the Camillo Golgi Prize by the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD). To read more, click here. Clinical trials should be considered to see whether DPP4 inhibitors could help treat COVID-19, a top endocrinologist in America has said. To read more, click here. People with diabetes who test positive for COVID-19 could be at a higher risk of developing pneumonia, researchers have said. To read more, click here. People with diabetes could be up to twice as likely to die from complications of COVID-19, researchers have said. To read more, click here. Professor Alan Sinclair, a top expert in diabetes among older people, has warned of the impact frailty may have among those with diabetes who develop COVID-19. To read more, click here. The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) has recommended Suliqua™ for restricted use in combination with metformin for the treatment of adults with type 2 diabetes. To read more, click here. The entry deadline for the annual Quality in Care Diabetes awards programme has been extended in response to coronavirus. To read more, click here. A new series of educational webinars covering sick day rules for healthcare professionals has now been made available. To read more, click here. Parents are being urged not to let coronavirus fears stop them from seeking medical help overs fears their child could be showing the signs and symptoms of type 1 diabetes. To read more, click here. British boxer Muhammad Ali is urging healthcare professionals to remember it is Ramadan and that many Muslims within the diabetes community may be fasting. To read more, click here. Bringing you the latest jobs from around the country within the field of diabetes. Diabetes CNS - Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust Highly Specialised Podiatrist – Diabetes & Wound Care - Wye Valley NHS Trust Band 4 Patient Navigator – Endocrine and Diabetes - Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust Diabetes Educator – Clinical Nurse Specialist - Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Present times have seen its share of the weird and the wonderful... and its been fascinating to observe, perhaps some influenced by my own confirmation bias and some which has made me crack a wry smile. 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