What’s Your Risk Of Contracting COVID-19 If You Have Diabetes?

According to the WHO, having either type 1 and type 2 diabetes can increase your risk of contracting COVID-19. Having diabetes makes one more vulnerable to contracting most diseases as is (especially during cold and flu season).

However, in the case of contracting COVID-19, current studies have determined that both type 1 and type 2 diabetes increase the risk for morbidity and mortality.

The theory is that hyperglycaemia (a symptom of diabetes marked by high levels of sugar or glucose in the blood) may cause a disfunction in your immune system’s response to the virus. This deficiency allows the invading pathogens to spread more rapidly in diabetic patients, according to a study published in Current Diabetes Review.

Diabetes Complications

Due to people with diabetes being more likely to have compromised immune systems, viral infections, like the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) can cause serious complications:

Diabetic ketoacidosis

When you’re stressed or ill, your blood sugar levels may rise. Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) happens when a person with diabetes does not have enough insulin to manage this drastic elevation. Your body begins to break down fats for energy, which results in a spike in ketones in the blood, making the blood more acidic. This makes DKA a complication that requires immediate medical attention.

Pneumonia

Pneumonia is essentially an inflammation of the air sacs in the lungs. Again, due to the immune-compromised status of people with diabetes, you may be at a greater risk of developing pneumonia as a result of COVID-19. This is why anyone with diabetes should be vaccinated against both pneumonia and influenza every year.

Dehydration

People with diabetes are already prone to dehydration on a regular basis. However, when infected with infections like COVID-19, you would be losing additional fluids due to fever, and your body fighting the infection.

High blood sugar

All infections cause a stress response in the body. This response increases your body’s production of glucose, resulting in much higher blood sugar levels. Therefore, your body is going to need extra insulin during a serious illness. If you’re ill, you should monitor your blood sugar levels more frequently. If you do see a spike in your blood sugar, consult your doctor on how often to administer this extra insulin.

Staying Safe From COVID-19 Infection If You Have Diabetes

Stock up on a few weeks’ worth of insulin and medical supplies

To avoid too many trips to the shops or to the pharmacy, try to stock up on basic supplies and a few weeks’ worth of insulin and medication. This is not to say you should stockpile so much medication that it will expire before you can take it. However, do get plenty of water, rubbing alcohol, ketone strips, glucagon, and foods like nuts and low-carb fruits to maintain blood sugar and electrolyte levels when you’re ill.

Arrange virtual communication with your doctor and local pharmacy

Many major pharmacies are offering delivery services, especially during the national lockdown. Keep in touch with you doctor, keeping him/her in the loop about your symptoms and blood sugar readings.

Practice social distancing

The coronavirus is known to spread fairly easily through infected surfaces (e.g. door handles and taps). These surfaces become contaminated by droplets from coughing and sneezing. Due to the latter, health authorities recommend standing at least two metres away from strangers.

If you suspect you may have contracted the virus: consult your doctor, wear a face mask, clean regularly used surfaces, and self-quarantining.

Keep an emergency contact on speed dial

If you find yourself with a shortness of breath or a persistent pain or pressure in the chest, you should seek emergency medical attention. Make sure you have a friend’s or family member’s phone number on hand in case you feel unwell. They should be someone, who is familiar with your history of diabetes and can help if you need it.

The post How COVID-19 Impacts People With Diabetes appeared first on Specialised Life.

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What Is Type 2 Diabetes?

This chronic condition affects the way your body metabolises sugar (glucose), which the body typically uses as fuel. With type 2 diabetes, your body either resists insulin – a hormone that controls the movement of sugar into your body’s cells – or doesn’t produce enough insulin to maintain normal glucose levels.

What’s The Difference Between Type 1 And Type 2 Diabetes?

While both type 1 and type 2 diabetes are chronic diseases, they differ in how they deal with insulin in the body. A person with type 1 diabetes cannot produce insulin at all. Meanwhile, a person with type 2 diabetes cannot respond to insulin very well, and as the disease progresses, their body often can’t make enough insulin.

Symptoms

Type 2 diabetes symptoms tend to appear gradually. Many people often don’t notice these symptoms when they first appear.

A person with this diabetes type may experience the following:

• Frequent urination
• Increased thirst
• Increased hunger
• Weight loss
• Fatigue / lack of energy
• Dry mouth
• Itchy skin
• Blurred vision
• Infections and sores
• Numbness and tingling in hands, arms, legs, and feet: due to poor circulation and nerve damage.
• Dental problems, including infections of the mouth and red, inflamed gums.

Treatment

Doctors can diagnose diabetes with a quick blood test that measures blood glucose levels. If you have recently experienced any of the above symptoms, you should make an appointment with your doctor as soon as possible.

Treatment for diabetes aims to keep blood glucose levels stable at a healthy level. Unfortunately, there is no cure for diabetes, but you can manage this disease through lifestyle changes as well as diabetes medications or insulin therapy.

These include:

• Taking medications or insulin as the doctor recommends
• Following a healthy diet
• Reaching and maintaining a healthy weight and body mass index (BMI)
• Doing physical activity (at least 30 minutes per day)
• Getting enough sleep
• Avoiding or quitting smoking

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Diabetes Insipidus Symptoms

Typical signs and symptoms of diabetes type include:

• Extreme thirst
• Producing large amounts of diluted urine
• Interrupted sleep due to getting up to urinate
• Preference for cold drinks

The following symptoms should be especially concerning in infants and young children:

• Heavy, wet diapers
• Bed-wetting
• Trouble sleeping
• Fever
• Vomiting
• Constipation
• Delayed growth
• Weight loss

Diabetes Insipidus Causes

All types of diabetes insipidus can be tied back to a hormone called vasopressin or anti-diuretic hormone (ADH). Nevertheless, this disease can occur in different ways. Vasopressin promotes water retention in the kidneys, which also maintains blood pressure at healthy levels.

While the main symptom is frequent and excessive urine output, this symptom may have other causes. One such cause may simply be improperly managed diabetes mellitus. Such alternative causes should be ruled out before making an insipidus diagnosis.

Types Of Diabetes Insipidus

• Central diabetes insipidus: This type is often due to damage to the pituitary gland or hypothalamus resulting from surgery, a tumour, a head injury or illness. Such damage can interfere in the usual production, storage and release of ADH. Some inherited genetic diseases can also cause this condition.
• Nephrogenic diabetes Insipidus: Nephrogenic diabetes is attributed to a defect in the kidney tubules, which are responsible for water being excreted and reabsorbed. This defect prevents your kidneys from properly responding to ADH. This defect may be linked to a genetic disorder or a chronic kidney disorder. Alternatively, it could be the result of certain medications.
• Gestational diabetes insipidus: This type of diabetes is incredibly rare. It occurs only during pregnancy, when an enzyme made by the placenta breaks down ADH in the mother.
• Primary polydipsia: Also known as dipsogenic diabetes insipidus, this condition manifests in the production of large amounts of diluted urine. The underlying cause is drinking excessive amounts of fluids. Alternatively, this diabetes type can be caused by damage to the thirst-regulating mechanism in the hypothalamus.

Complications

This diabetes’ complications commonly present as either dehydration or electrolyte imbalances.

Dehydration can cause:

• Dry mouth
• Changes in skin elasticity
• Thirst
• Fatigue

An electrolyte imbalance can cause:

• Weakness
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Loss of appetite
• Muscle cramps
• Confusion

While there is no cure for this type of diabetes, the symptoms can be managed with treatment.

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Low-Carb Diet Benefits For Diabetics

A low-carb diet is an excellent strategy for managing diabetes, especially for people who may be able to avoid going onto medication.

Carbohydrates can elevate one’s blood sugar more than any other food group. People with an insulin resistance typically find that their blood glucose levels remain elevated for hours after eating carbs. Carb-rich foods can also have a negative impact on a person’s health, since they are often high in calories but low in nutrients. Eating too many of these “empty calories” inevitably leads to weight gain. Moreover, research shows that people, who eat carb-rich foods, are likely to get hungrier between meals, causing them to overeat.

However, switching to a low-carb diet plan can produce a number of great benefits, especially for folks struggling with diabetes:

• More energy
• Lower average blood glucose, or HbA1c levels
• Reduced food cravings, especially for sugar
• Lower risk of hypoglycaemia
• Lower cholesterol
• Aids in weight loss efforts
• Decreased risk of long-term diabetes complications

Foods To Eat And Foods To Avoid

A diabetic diet should always be centred around eating low-carb, high-nutrient whole foods. Of course, no matter what diet you choose to follow, it’s important to pay attention to your body’s hunger and fullness cues.

Foods to eat:

• Meat, poultry, and seafood
• Eggs
• Cheese
• Non-starchy vegetables
• Avocado
• Olives
• Olive oil, coconut oil, butter, cream, sour cream, and cream cheese

Foods to eat in moderation:

• Berries: 1 cup or less.
• Plain, Greek yogurt: 1 cup or less.
• Cottage Cheese: ½ cup or less.
• Nuts or peanuts: 30-60 grams.
• Flaxseeds or chia seeds: 2 tablespoons.
• Dark chocolate (at least 85% cocoa): 30 grams or less.
• Liquor: 50 grams.
• Dry red or white wine: 120 grams.

Foods to avoid:

• Bread, pasta, cereal, corn and other grains
• Starchy vegetables like potatoes, sweet potatoes, yams and taro
• Legumes like peas, lentils and beans (except for green beans)
• Milk
• Fruit other than berries
• Juice, cooldrink, punch, sweetened tea, etc
• Beer
• Desserts, baked goods, sweets, ice cream, etc

These foods are very high in carbohydrates, which contribute to spikes in blood sugar levels in diabetics. Best to avoid them where possible.

Talk To Your Doctor Before Changing Your Diet

It’s important to note that by reducing the amount of carbs in your diet can lower your insulin levels, which causes the kidneys to release sodium and water. As such, it is important that you drink plenty of water over the course of the day and increase the salt in your diet to make up for the decrease in sodium. Try to include more broth, olives, and other salty low-carb snacks as well as adding some salt to your meals. However, if you have a family history of heart failure, congestive kidney disease or high blood pressure, or you have been diagnosed with these issues in the past, speak with your doctor before making any changes to your diet.

Your doctor would also be able to give you advice on other ways to control your blood sugar levels by improving your insulin sensitivity. Things like aerobic exercise, quality sleep, and stress management can go a long way to lower blood sugar and insulin levels.

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