Coronavirus and Diabetes: What are the Risks.
The global coronavirus pandemic is looming larger, with news of additional infections and deaths, potential economic fallout and travel advisories. The media has been reporting that people with diabetes and other “underlying conditions” face higher risk of serious complications from coronavirus, the virus associated with COVID-19.
But, why are people with diabetes considered particularly high risk? And how should they manage diabetes during the COVID-19 pandemic?
What is Covid-19 (Coronavirus)?
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, SARS-CoV-2 is a virus that is common in animal species, and it rarely infects and spreads among humans. However, coronavirus first began infecting and spreading among humans in Wuhan, China in December 2019. From there, the disease has spread all over the globe.
The virus spreads through human to human contact and respiratory droplets (from sneezing and coughing). Therefore, everyone should be cautious. Coronavirus has an incubation period of 2 to 14 days. This means infected people can spread COVID-19 for days or even weeks before developing symptoms. The CDC reports that it might take up to a year to get a vaccine for the virus.
What are the COVID-19 Symptoms?
According to the CDC, recorded cases of coronavirus have included mild to severe symptoms. About 2 to 14 days after getting infected, people may experience:
- Dry cough
- Shortness of breath
- Fever
Emergency warning signs of corona virus include:
- Difficulty breathing
- Bluish face or lips
- Pressure or persistent pain in the chest
Should People with Diabetes (PWDs) be Concerned?
As people with diabetes adjust their routines, it’s extremely important that they follow a few extra safety precautions and plan ahead. According to the American Diabetes Association online Coronavirus resource, people with diabetes are not more likely to get coronavirus than the general population. Instead, they face a greater risk of developing severe complications if they get infected with coronavirus.
For instance, data from COVID-19 cases in China show that diabetes patients have much higher rates of severe complications and fatalities than people without diabetes.
Those with more underlying health conditions, such as heart disease and diabetes, have a higher risk of experiencing severe health complications, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) says. Moreover, being ill makes it even more difficult for people with diabetes to monitor and manage their blood glucose levels.
However, people with diabetes should not panic or worry. Instead, they should take extra precautions, continue monitoring their glucose levels as prescribed by their physician, and practice the recommended hand washing and social distancing guidelines.
Your Risk of COVID-19 with Diabetes
People with diabetes face a higher risk of complication especially when it comes to viral infection like flu, and this is likely true with coronavirus, the ADA said in late February. The fact is that diabetes patients are at a higher risk when dealing with pneumonia, flu (influenza), and now coronavirus because when blood glucose level are elevated or fluctuating consistently, they have lower protection against disease (a lower immune response), so they risk developing complications quicker.
Even if their glucose levels are within the recommended range, there’s an underlying risk of aggravated illness. When you’re ill, fluctuating glucose levels cause symptoms to become much worse and extend recovery time. Although there’s no confirmed connection between deaths from coronavirus and diabetes, data from the JAMA (Journal of American Medical Association) reports shows that there is a higher case-fatality rate among high risk individual (people with underlying conditions):
- Cardiovascular disease: 10.5%
- Diabetes: 7.3%
- Chronic respiratory disease: 6.3%
- Hypertension: 6.0%
- Cancer: 5.6%
Coronavirus Protection Guidelines for Everyone
The Center for Disease Control’s recommendations for protecting against coronavirus include:
- Washing hands regularly with water and soap for at least 20 seconds
- Social distancing (at least 6 feet)
- Making sure you and your loved ones are up to date with the pneumonia and flu shot
- Keeping your hands away from your face (particularly the nose, mouth and eyes which are potential entry points for germs).
- Wearing face masks or cloth face coverings in areas where social distancing guidelines are difficult to maintain and areas of community-based transmission
- Keep distance and avoid physical contact with people who are coughing, sneezing, or showing other signs of respiratory illness
These guidelines are important to slow the spread of coronavirus and help prevent asymptomatic people from spreading it to others. Authorities including the CDC are emphasizing that people who think they might be sick, self-quarantine.
What About People with Diabetes?
Most doctors who treat diabetes are emphasizing illness precautions and basic hygiene, as well as maintaining good glucose control. It’s also important for people with diabetes to stay hydrated because they are generally more prone to dehydration. Stock up on clean drinking water and liquids that can provide energy and electrolytes in an emergency situation.
If you get flu symptoms that progress to pneumonia, get treatment and support fast.
What should people with diabetes do to prepare for Coronavirus?
The Coronavirus pandemic reminds us how poorly we are prepared for emergency and disaster situations. People with diabetes are reliant on the uninterrupted manufacture of glucose monitoring supplies and life-sustaining insulin. Therefore, disaster and emergency planning is a vital component to survival. It is recommended that you have extra diabetes monitoring supplies, along with extra insulin, at least a month’s worth.
You can consult your doctor about working through and around barriers of affordability and access to supplies. Thankfully, many pharma and medtech companies are tackling disease preparation and awareness as it relates to coronavirus – notably Roche, Medtronic, and J&J.
