Fig. 1.

Type 2 diabetes and COVID-19 share a common soil of chronic inflammation. High levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α stimulate secretion of GLP-1, which in turn is able to reduce their circulating levels, hyperglycemia and inflammation. Similarly, insulin lowers both glucose levels and inflammation. The combination of GLP-1 and insulin provides synergic glucose lowering and anti-inflammatory effects, with the benefit of a single injection and less frequency of contacts. +: stimulation; −: inhibition