COVID-19 and Diabetes – What you need to know

Are people with diabetes more prone to Covid-19?

People with uncontrolled diabetes are at increased risk of all infections, so there may be more chance, we are seeing new information day by day, probably chance of Covid19 or severity will be more in people with Diabetes.

Better we follow our diet plan (most importantly timing, in the lockdown, no excuse!) and exercise routine (Indoor for lockdown period, to the extent possible), take your medications regularly and test your sugar levels frequently so as to keep your diabetes under control.

We need to monitor sugar more closely and keep ourselves hydrated.

Do people with diabetes have a higher chance of experiencing serious complications from COVID-19?

In general, people with diabetes are more likely to experience severe symptoms and complications when infected with a virus or bacteria. If diabetes is well-managed, the risk of getting severely sick from COVID-19 is about the same as the general population.

When people with diabetes do not manage their diabetes well and experience fluctuating blood sugars, they are generally at risk for a number of diabetes-related complications.

Not to forget when sick with an infection, we have DKA (diabetic ketoacidosis), more common in type 1 Diabetes.

What are the symptoms and warning signs I should be watching out for and what do I do if I think I’m developing them?

Pay attention for potential COVID-19 symptoms including fever, dry cough and shortness of breath. If you feel like you are developing symptoms, contact nearest Hospital.

Are the risks different for people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes?

• In general, we don’t know of any reason to think COVID-19 will pose a difference in risk between type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
• More important is that people with either type of diabetes vary in their age, complications and how well they have been managing their diabetes.
• People who already have diabetes-related health problems are likely to have worse outcomes if they contract COVID-19 than people with diabetes who are otherwise healthy, whichever type of diabetes they have.

What symptoms should we look for if we think we may have COVID-19? Is that different for people living with diabetes than for other people?

The symptoms of COVID-19 are not different for people living with diabetes, and still include fever, cough and shortness of breath. If someone living with diabetes has a fever, they might also notice that their blood sugars start to run higher than normal.

Can some diabetes medications amplify the immune response to COVID-19?

At this time, we don’t know of any diabetes medications that amplify the immune response to COVID-19. No one should stop taking their medication unless they’re guided to do so by a medical professional. However, if someone is on an SGLT-2 Inhibitor (like Jardiance or Forixga or Invokana) they should stop it if they become ill. 

​If we had the virus and recovered, can we get it again or are we now immune?

We don’t know. As of today, there’s no cure and no vaccination for COVID-19. Just as with influenza, we might see COVID-19 mutate and be a reoccurring virus, but we don’t know yet. People with diabetes (above 2 years of age) are recommended pneumococcal and annual influenza vaccinations.

What  preventive measures  should people with Diabetes  take during this pandemic situation?

It is important that people with diabetes maintain a good glycaemic control, as it might help in reducing the risk of infection and also the severity. Attention to nutrition and adequate protein intake is important.

Any deficiencies of minerals and vitamins need to be taken care of. Exercise has been shown to improve immunity, though it might be prudent to be careful and avoid crowded places like gymnasia or swimming pools.

What should I do to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in my home—and what do I do if someone in my household has the virus?

For people with underlying health conditions, including diabetes, healthy family members in the household should conduct themselves as if they were a significant risk to them.

For example, they should be sure to wash their hands before feeding or caring for them.

If possible, a protected space should be made available for vulnerable household members, and all utensils and surfaces should be cleaned regularly. If a member of your household is sick, be sure to give them their own room, if possible, and keep the door closed.

Have only one family member care for them, and consider providing additional protections or more intensive care for household members over 65 years old or with underlying health conditions.