Diabetes Patients Vulnerable to Corona Virus, Here’s the Good …

Diabetics need to be more vigilant in the midst of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus pandemic that causes Covid-19.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Covid-19 is a disease that can be dangerous for diabetics.

Also, the elderly, people with heart, lung, and cancer diseases are also vulnerable when infected with the corona virus.

Are diabetics more prone to Covid-19?

Launching Diabetes.org, until now there has been no data showing diabetes sufferers are more prone to infection with the corona virus.

However, diabetics are among the vulnerable groups when exposed to Covid-19 because of the impact of this SARS-CoV-2 virus infection.

Reflecting on China, diabetics infected with the corona virus can experience serious health complications to the point of being fatal than patients without diabetes.

Especially if diabetes is accompanied by heart disease, the risk of experiencing complications when attacked by Covid-19 is higher.

Read Also : How do you know if you have diabetes?

Why are diabetics at risk when exposed to Covid-19?

Unstable blood sugar levels make diabetics more at risk when infected with Covid-19.

“Blood glucose levels that easily rise or fall increase the risk of complications from Covid-19 for diabetic patients,” said Maria Pena, an endocrinologist from Mount Sinai Doctors Forest Hills, USA, as reported by Health.

Agreeing with Pena, the International Diabetes Foundation (IDF) said that infection with various types of viruses (including corona) makes the disease more difficult to treat for diabetes patients.

The reason is, the immune system of diabetics is disturbed.

These conditions, make it more difficult for their bodies to fight infection. If it recovers, the recovery time will also be longer.

Viruses also tend to be able to thrive in host sites with high blood sugar levels.

Diabetics also have high inflammation throughout their bodies.

When infected with the virus from the respiratory tract, the infection is easier to develop into pneumonia.

And, the thing that makes diabetics vulnerable when infected with the virus, when they are attacked by a disease, patients tend to be stressed, and their blood sugar spikes.

A series of these conditions can make diabetics vulnerable when infected with viruses such as corona.

read also : 5 Foods That Cause Diabetes

How to prevent Covid-19 in diabetics

To prevent contracting the corona virus, diabetics also need to take basic precautions such as:

• Wash your hands frequently with soap
• Avoid touching the face
• Routinely disinfect frequently touched objects
• Avoid contact with sick people
• Keep blood sugar stable
• Provide medicine so you don’t have to go back and forth to the hospital
• Avoid crowds, public spaces, supermarkets
• As much as possible stay at home

What if a person with diabetes is positive for Covid-19?

If a diabetic patient feels symptoms of a corona virus infection such as fever, shortness of breath, dry cough, and fatigue, it is better to immediately contact the doctor who usually handles it.

If the patient finally tests positive for Covid-19, continue with diabetes medication, take the medication prescribed by the doctor to relieve symptoms of the disease, drink lots of water, and get enough rest.

Also, you also need to be more diligent in checking blood sugar levels. Sometimes, an infection can naturally make blood sugar spike.

Diabetics need to get medical help immediately if they experience persistent shortness of breath, chest tightness like pressure, or pale face.

It is no less important, diabetics should not panic in responding to the Covid-19 outbreak. Stress can make things worse.