https://www.lmj.ly/index.php/ojs <p><strong>Libyan Medical Journal</strong> (LMJ) (<a href="https://portal.issn.org/resource/ISSN/3107-0426"><strong>ISSN</strong>:3107-0426</a>), formerly known as <strong>Jamahiriya Medical Journal</strong> (JMJ), is an open-access, peer-reviewed journal that encompasses all fundamental and clinical aspects of medical sciences, with an emphasis on the clinical and disease-oriented studies.</p> <p><strong>Scope</strong> of the journal includes: Medicine, nursing and allied health sciences, pharmacy, pathology, anatomy, pharmacology, toxicology, surgery, physiology, and other related fields. </p> Libyan Board of Medical Specialties en-US Libyan Medical Journal 2079-1216 https://www.lmj.ly/index.php/ojs/article/view/232 <p>Diabetes mellitus is highly prevalent in Libya and is a well-established risk factor for severe COVID-19. Real-world data from the Libyan diabetic population during the pandemic are scarce, particularly in conflict-affected settings. This study aims to evaluate COVID-19 infection rates, clinical severity, vaccination uptake, and the influence of glycemic control in Libyan adults with diabetes. A questionnaire-based cross-sectional study was conducted (January–February 2022) at three major diabetes centres in western Libya (Surman, Zawia, and Tripoli). A total of 122 consecutive patients aged ≥20 years with confirmed diabetes were enrolled and interviewed regarding demographics, latest HbA1c level, physical activity, family history, confirmed COVID-19 infection, hospitalisation, and COVID-19 vaccination status. Overall, 44.3 % (54/122) of participants reported laboratory-confirmed COVID-19. All 20 patients with poor glycemic control (HbA1c ≥7.0%) who contracted COVID-19 required hospital admission, whereas none of the 34 with good control needed hospitalisation (p &lt; 0.001). Vaccine uptake (≥1 dose) was 72.1 % (88/122) and varied significantly by centre: Tripoli 85.4 %, Zawia 65.5 %, and Surman 63.5 %. Vaccine refusal ranged from 14.6 % (Tripoli) to 36.5 % (Surman). Self-reported regular physical activity was alarmingly low (&lt;10% across centres). Poor glycemic control was strongly associated with severe COVID-19 requiring hospitalisation in this Libyan diabetic cohort, despite a small sample and potential outpatient survival bias. Vaccine hesitancy remains substantial outside major cities. Urgent intensification of diabetes education, glycemic optimisation, and targeted vaccination campaigns is needed</p> Anwar Elmahgubi Rahma Omar Ahlam Althabet Nariman Almshawt Mabrouka Eretheb Eenas Aqjaam Marwah Alkurdi Nisren Ali Nizar Ahmed Copyright (c) 2026 Libyan Medical Journal 2026-03-11 2026-03-11 117 120 10.69667/lmj.26301