Health and wellness blog

Covid-19 and Diabetes: Effective ways to manage the condition

According to , COVID-19 infection is a double challenge for people with diabetes. Diabetes has been reported to be a risk factor for the severity of the disease and at the same time, patients have to control glucose in a situation with a decreased and more variable food intake.

COVID 19 may trigger the onset of diabetes in healthy people and also cause complications in diabetic patients, as mentioned in .

Based on clinical observation so far, the scientist, including Stephanie A. Amiel from King's College London UK, said there is a bidirectional relationship between COVID 19 and diabetes.

In a letter published in , they explained that diabetes, on other hand is associated with risk of COVID 19 severity with mortality with 20% to 30% of patients who died with infectious disease reported to have diabetes. There is a bidirectional relationship between Covid-19 and diabetes. On the one hand, diabetes is associated with an increased risk of severe Covid-19. On the other hand, new-onset diabetes and severe metabolic complications of preexisting diabetes, including diabetic ketoacidosis and hyperosmolarity for which exceptionally high doses of insulin are warranted, have been observed in patients with Covid-19. These manifestations of diabetes pose challenges in clinical management and suggest complex pathophysiology of Covid-19–related diabetes.

People with diabetes are not more likely to get COVID-19 than the general population. However, COVID-19 can cause more severe symptoms and complications in some people living with Diabetes1-8 On the brighter side, if diabetes is well-managed, the risk of getting severely sick from COVID-19 is about the same as the general population. Diet, exercise, medicine and monitoring are four pillars for effective management of Diabetes.

According to , Older people and people with pre-existing medical conditions (such as diabetes, heart disease and asthma) appear to be more vulnerable to becoming severely ill with the COVID-19 virus. When people with diabetes develop a viral infection, it can be harder to treat due to fluctuations in blood glucose levels and, possibly, the presence of diabetes complications.

There appear to be two reasons for this. Firstly, the immune system is compromised, making it harder to fight the virus and likely leading to a longer recovery period. Secondly, the virus may thrive in an environment of elevated blood glucose.

HOW TO PREPARE YOURSELF IF YOU HAVE DIABETES:

Prepare in case you get ill.

Make sure you have all relevant contact details to hand in case you need them.

Pay extra attention to your glucose control. Regular monitoring can help avoid complications caused by high or low blood glucose.

If you do show flu-like symptoms (raised temperature, cough, difficulty breathing), it is important to consult a healthcare professional. If you are coughing up phlegm, this may indicate an infection so you should seek medical support and treatment immediately.

Any infection is going to raise your glucose levels and increase your need for fluids, so make sure you can access a sufficient supply of water.

Make sure you have a good supply of the diabetes medications you need. Think about what you would need if you had to quarantine yourself for a few weeks.

Make sure you have access to enough food.

Make sure you will be able to correct the situation if your blood glucose drops suddenly.

If you live alone, make sure someone you can rely on knows you have diabetes as you may require assistance if you get ill.

Keep a regular schedule, avoiding overwork and having a good night's sleep.

WHAT TYPE OF FOOD TO BE CONSUMED TO MAINTAIN GLYCAEMIC INDEX:

Give priority to foods with a low glycaemic index (e.g. vegetables, whole wheat pasta/noodles)

Avoid excessive consumption of fried foods

Limit consumption of foods high in sugar, carbohydrates and fat

Choose lean proteins (eg. fish, meat, eggs, milk, beans after fully cooked).

Eat green, leafy vegetables

Eat fruits in two or three servings

If you need your insulin injections, masks, baby food has it all. They are one of the best online pharmacies in Delhi and have 24 hours of home delivery services.

Be extra watchful for worsening symptoms if you or your loved one has an underlying condition that may give you a higher chance of getting severe COVID-19, such as:

asthma or other lung diseases

heart disease

low immune system

Be careful of your diet and be regular with your medicines.

In case you tend to stay alone and happen to be an aged person, keep your emergency contacts of your family member, nearby hospital and ambulance within your reach or save on your phone. Be watchful for worsening symptoms and call for help before it's too late.