We identified older age, co-morbidities (diabetes, chronic kidney disease) and laboratory parameters (leucocyte count, prothrombin time, serum ferritin, d-dimer, pro-calcitonin, fibrin degradation products, lactate dehydrogenase, neutrophil lymphocyte ratio, C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, liver function, renal function and serum electrolytes) as determinants of severe disease at the time of admission among COVID-19 patients. The gene discussed is IL6; the disease is diabetes mellitus.