COVID-19 AND DIABETES: EFFECTIVE WAYS TO MANAGE THE CONDITION
“Diabetes is dynamite for person with COVID-19: Ex-WHO advisor
Zimmet, who is President International Diabetes Federation, added that the actual mechanism as to why COVID-19 may cause diabetes is as yet unknown.” - THE NEW INDIAN EXPRESS
“COVID-19 may trigger new diabetes, experts say” – THE HINDU
As you have seen, these are the recent newspaper titles that have been gaining more attention due to the confusions and ambiguity regarding how corona virus causes diabetes and cause harm for diabetic patients.
THE CLASH OF COVID-19 AND DIABETES
Paul Zimmet, Professor of Diabetes, Monash University, Australia has said that 30-40 per cent of deaths from studies in intensive care units from different countries are people with diabetes. Also he said that COVID-19 is a cunning virus making it unclear about how does it cause diabetes.
Studies in intensive care units regarding deaths caused by covid-19 has found that the complications of the virus like pneumonia are seen in diabetic patients with poor metabolic control or high blood sugar.
Diabetes is associated with chronic conditions like obesity, hypertension and heart disease which make it more risky for the diabetic patients to get infected.
COVID-19 INSTIGATING DIABETES
As for now the actual mechanism of how covid-19 affects glucose metabolism and cause diabetes is unknown. But through certain studies it is found out that the ACE-2 (angiotensin-converting enzyme 2), which binds to SARS-Cov-2 to reach targeted cells in basically affected lungs are also located in other organs and tissues involved in glucose metabolism.
So this might be how covid-19 lead to damaging pancreas tissues and disrupts cellular metabolism resulting in an onset of diabetes. But still it is not perfectly clear and further studies are continued to gain better understanding of this matter.
KILLER COVID-19 FOR DIABETIC PATIENTS
How does covid-19 affect diabetic patients ?
The co morbidity of having diabetes may become a risk factor for becoming infected with covid-19 because diabetic patients have a compromised immunity. A case of poor metabolic control or a high blood sugar environment may become favorable for covid-19 to enter the human body.
Moreover, many patients with diabetes also have hypertension (high blood pressure) and are treated with a type of medication like ACE inhibitors which appear to make it easier for the virus to affect the cells.
Besides the lock down may pose some trouble for diabetic patients to keep up with their regular checkups and also lack of physical activity may cause a rise in blood sugar.
Don’t worry!
Let the stress go down.
EFFECTIVE WAY TO MANAGE DURING THIS CRISIS
Like everyone else follow the basic measures to be taken to tackle with covid-19. Wash your hands frequently and wear a mask whenever you go out to protect yourself. Maintain social distancing.
Keep yourself away from people with any respiratory illness or symptoms. If you have normal flu or cold, avoid going out. Stay home and be safe.
Other than these you could keep a check on necessary food essentials to keep your diabetic diet intact. Make sure to keep your eating habits emphasizing on immunity boosting food items.
Avoid sharing food, utensils, towels and other tools with others.
Keep your blood sugars under control through regular monitoring.
Wash your hands before you give yourself a finger stick or insulin shot if needed.
Maintain physical and mental health. Keep your body moving and avoid anxiety and stress. Maintain contact with your loved ones and exercise regularly. Also take a proper amount of sleep to keep you energetic.
Drink adequate amount of water. If it’s a hot climate in your place chances of becoming dehydrated are more and may cause a rise in sugar level.
Keep relevant contact details of doctors and hospitals. Also make sure you have someone for assistance wherever you are staying.
Don’t stress yourself but keep yourself updated with authoritative information regarding covid-19 through government apps and WHO guidelines.
If at all you seem to have any symptoms of illness like mild fever, cough, shortness of breath or a sudden rise in sugar levels, immediately contact with the state helpline numbers or seek proper medical attention.
Make use of the advanced technology- use glucometers, pedometers, digital clinics, diabetes apps, healthcare and pharmacy app like 3MEDS to keep a check on your diabetes.
Also make sure you have a good supply of diabetic medicines. For best online delivery service of essential medicines and health care products visit www.3meds.com.
