[COVID-19 and type 2 diabetes mellitus: implications in pancreatic beta cells].

The prevalence of chronic metabolic diseases in Mexico is high, being type 2 Diabetes mellitus (T2DM) as the most common disease. Several studies have shown that, compared with healthy individuals, patients with T2DM suffer a higher severity and mortality of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Therefore, it is important to the knowledge of the bidirectional relationship between these diseases. T2DM can increase SARS-CoV-2 virus pathogenicity in part due to metabolic disturbance. As a result, COVID-19 susceptibility and severity rise in diabetic individuals, which makes them a high-risk population. On the other hand, the infection caused by SARS-CoV-2 can lead individuals to hyperglycemia or new-onset diabetes. In order to understand the relationship between COVID-19 and T2DM, this review aims to emphasize the tropism of the SARS-CoV-2 virus to pancreatic beta-cells, as well as the physiologic effects of these.