While it is a scary virus by itself, the risks you face increase tremendously as a Type 1 Diabetic. A person living with diabetes must be extra careful regarding common infections. And in our case now, global pandemics. This is because diabetes can compromise the immune and metabolic systems that help most people fight off viruses.
Even well-managed diabetics are at higher risk of dangerous complications from seasonal flu. Now that official estimates that COVID-19 is ten times as lethal as the seasonal flu, it is important to not ignore the tremendous risk that those of us living with diabetes face during this historic health crisis.
How Corona virus affects diabetes differently
- People of all ages can be infected by the new coronavirus. However, older people and people with pre-existing medical conditions such as diabetes appear to be more vulnerable to becoming severely ill with the virus.
- Researchers in China who dealt with the outbreak published a paper suggesting an increased risk of the severity of outcomes in patients who had diabetes. They saw more hospitalization, ICU care and overall mortality in patients who had diabetes.
Why are diabetes in more risk?
- Diabetes patients are more susceptible to infections and tend to have more severe outcomes during other viral infections and outbreaks.
- There’s an impact on the immune system in patients who have diabetes. They may have increased baseline inflammation, and they also may be unable to mount a response to an infection as robustly as other patients.
What precautions should diabetics take?
- Follow all recommendations to minimize their social contacts. That includes trying to stay home and avoiding other public places and people as much as possible.
- Patients who have diabetes — and particularly patients who have diabetes and other medical problems — need to be strict about social distancing and isolation to keep themselves safe.
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