Coronavirus (Covid-19) Threatens Diabetes Patients - While COVID-19 infection is completely…
Both during the first wave of the pandemic caused by the Covid-19 infection and during the second wave, it quickly became apparent that certain people had a particularly high risk of contracting the Covid-19 infection.
Diabetes (Diabetes Mellitus) is generally seen in the type-2 form (90%) and is mostly seen in people over the age of 50. Particularly uncontrolled diabetes negatively affects the functioning of the immune system and partially hinders the body's ability to fight microbes. For this reason, diabetics are at risk in this pandemic due to both their illness and their age.
There is serious evidence that coronavirus infection has a worse course in chronic illnesses such as diabetes, heart, and lung disease, and in patients with a suppressed immune system.
Data obtained from regions most seriously affected by Covid-19 show that the risk of death for diabetics has increased by nearly 50%. Studies published in the French Diabetology journal in June 2020 and September 2020 showed that 1 in every 10 diabetic patients dies within the first 7 days after being hospitalized.
These days, as we experience the second wave, we now have much more information on this subject. According to recent studies, observations, and findings, old age, male gender, obesity, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, and particularly diabetes pose a great risk in terms of coronavirus infection.
Risk Factors in Terms of Covid-19
- People over 50-60 years of age
- Diabetes
- High blood pressure
- Lung diseases (for example COPD)
- Obesity
- Cancer
- Use of biologic agents
- Weakened immune system
When diabetics also have other conditions alongside diabetes, the risk increases considerably.
In coronavirus infection, maintaining good blood sugar control is the most important precaution for reducing the risk and severity of infection. Good blood sugar control means a fasting blood sugar around 80-130 mg/dl, and a postprandial blood sugar level, measured 2 hours after meals, below 160 mg/dl.
Coronavirus damages the inner lining of blood vessels by increasing oxidative stress. This damage occurring in the vascular system harms many organ systems. People with uncontrolled diabetes experience this oxidative stress most severely. Depending on how long a person has had diabetes or how irregular their blood sugar level is, the blood vessels — particularly the inner layer of the blood vessels — and the nerves can be damaged. Diabetes, particularly in people whose blood sugar control is uncontrolled, disrupts the vascular structure in the body and weakens the defense system, that is, the immune system.
In diabetic patients, Covid-19 infection and other infections progress more severely than in non-diabetics. Many studies have shown that these individuals' need for hospitalization, need for intensive care, and mortality rates are higher than in non-diabetic individuals.
In diabetic patients whose sugar regulation is irregular, if there are organ systems that were previously damaged due to this irregularity (particularly hypertension), contracting the infectious disease becomes easier, the clinical course becomes more severe, and the risk of death increases.
Organ damage that can lead to secondary illnesses occurs due to damage in the blood vessels and irregularities in nerve conduction. It has long been known that secondary illnesses develop much faster and more easily in those with circulatory system irregularities, nerve conduction irregularities, and digestive difficulties, and that these individuals experience a constant state of inflammation.
Common complications associated with diabetes:
- Vascular and coronary heart disease
- Embolism (blood clot) formation
- Stroke
- Kidney damage and decreased kidney function
- Frequently recurring cystitis-like urinary tract infections
- Delayed wound healing
- Hormonal disorders, erectile dysfunction
- Worsening of the menopausal course
- Neuropathy due to nerve damage
- Clinical findings associated with chronic fatigue
- Chronic wound infections
Patients with irregular blood sugar are at greater risk!!
In diabetic individuals who have good blood sugar levels, eat a balanced diet, pay attention to physical activity, prioritize sleep, and make an effort to manage stress, secondary illnesses are rare despite their diabetes. Even though they keep their sugar levels well under control, they need to protect themselves as much as possible from coronavirus and other viral infections, keeping in mind that they are in the risk group.
Diabetics with metabolic syndrome in particular are at great risk!
We observe that people with type 2 diabetes who are also overweight and have hypertension carry a greater risk.
The fact that many diabetic patients are of advanced age and have secondary illnesses is the reason the illness follows a more severe course. Due to blood sugar irregularity, the immune system weakens and patients become more vulnerable to infectious diseases. Functional strain on the pancreas, the coronavirus's suppression of pancreatic function, and the increased risk of blood clots triggered by microcirculation disorders in the blood vessels also cause the clinical course to be more severe.
A new study reveals that the Covid-19 virus selectively damages the insulin islets in the pancreas, worsening the clinical course in diabetes.
Particularly in these days, as we are experiencing the second wave of Covid-19, the general safety measures recommended — primarily hygiene and masks — apply to diabetics just as they do to everyone else. People with diabetes need to pay even more attention to these coronavirus precautions than everyone else. Diabetic individuals need to be more careful about self-care, physical activity, and correct nutrition.
We recommend that people with diabetes and circulatory problems avoid taking risks. These recommendations can also include avoiding unnecessary travel, avoiding entering enclosed spaces if possible, using masks and glasses to protect the mouth, nose, and eyes in public, and absolutely staying away from people with cold symptoms.
All other individuals who have had contact with a person confirmed to be infected with the coronavirus should remain in home quarantine for 14 days, regardless of any prior illness. Those with diabetes must absolutely comply with this quarantine period. If symptoms of a respiratory tract infection appear, they should contact their doctor by phone immediately.
In conclusion;
We observe that the coronavirus follows a much more severe course in people who have diabetes, have irregular blood sugar, and are overweight. These observations point, on one hand, to the fact that in people with weakened insulin resistance and blood sugar irregularity, the body may develop an immune response in this infection state, and on the other hand, to the fact that the virus, in diabetics, likely finds a favorable environment for rapid multiplication by exploiting a disrupted ACE1/ACE2 balance, and on this basis worsens the clinical picture by damaging the islet cells located in the pancreas.
Get through your days not by eating a lot, but by eating sufficiently and in a balanced way. First and foremost, stay away from foods high in carbohydrates, sweets, and flour-based foods, engage in daily physical activity, try to lose your excess weight as soon as possible, pay attention to your sleep, drink enough water, remove smoking and alcohol from your life, absolutely stay away from processed and ready-made foods, try to be happy with small things, create small daily rewards that will make you smile and be happy, and faithfully follow the protection and hygiene rules recommended for coronavirus infection.
Remember that regular sport and physical activity both break your insulin resistance, strengthen your immune system, and help you lose excess weight, as well as help strengthen your muscles and repair your body's circulatory system.
In these days when we are fighting the coronavirus infection, it is extremely important for diabetic individuals to isolate themselves at home and manage their illness well during this process. Taking precautions is easier than repairing damage after it has occurred. In cases where you cannot find a solution through your own personal effort, I recommend that you absolutely consult your doctor...