Diabetes and COVID-19
Disclaimer: Not medical or professional advice. Always seek the advice of your physician.
COVID-19 is a viral infection belonging to the coronavirus family, which remains a poorly understood disease today and has unpredictable consequences. A healthy body can independently cope with the disease or its consequences. However, patients with coronavirus and diabetes, as well as other severe chronic diseases, are at increased risk for developing serious complications and even death.
Diabetes is a metabolic disorder that occurs when the pancreas does not make enough or any insulin or when the body cannot use it correctly. This leads to chronic high blood sugar, hyperglycemia. Insulin is a pancreatic hormone that maintains normal blood glucose levels by facilitating cellular glucose uptake, regulating carbohydrate, lipid, and protein metabolism.
There are Two Types of Diabetes
- Type 1 diabetes (insulin-dependent) is a disease in which the body does not make enough insulin to control blood sugar levels.
- Insulin resistance when the pancreas’ ability to release insulin begins to decrease remains a major feature of type 2 diabetes.
It is still unclear whether people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes are more likely to catch coronavirus and are at risk of severe complications. People with type 1 and 2 diabetes have metabolic violations in the body, and there are often concomitant diseases.
How COVID-19 Impacts People with Diabetes
On the first day, the symptoms in patients with coronavirus and type 1 and 2 diabetes do not vary (fever, headache, runny nose, cough, weakness), but they are constantly increasing. The cough becomes obsessive, accompanied by chest tightness in the sternum, extreme shortness of breath. Musculoskeletal pain, smell loss, loose stool, and nausea can indicate COVID-19.
Characteristics of The Course of COVID-19 in Patients With Type 1 Diabetes
- Atypical development of the infectious process.
- At the very beginning of infection, symptoms are cleared up.
- A quick increase in respiratory failure after a few days.
Also, the coronavirus provokes the risk of blood poisoning, a protracted course of pneumonia during its development, and respiratory failure. Unfortunately, diabetes is commonly viewed as a potential risk factor for death in patients with coronavirus, mainly due to diabetic ketoacidosis.
Are The Risks Different for People with Type 1 and type 2 Diabetes?
There is no confirmed scientific link that there is a difference in the risks of COVID-19 between people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. It is important how well an individual controls diabetes, age, and related diseases. People with poorly controlled diabetes are at increased risk of developing complications from COVID-19.
Complications of COVID-19 with Diabetes
Ketoacidosis
Ketoacidosis is an acute complication of diabetes that occurs due to a severe lack of insulin in the blood. The level of glucose in the blood rises, but the cells cannot absorb it. The body switches to producing energy by burning fat. In the process of breaking down fats, substances are produced — ketone bodies. They make the blood more acidic than normal. Because of this, the normal functioning of the body is disrupted.
Symptoms of poisoning may include.
- Thirst.
- Frequent urination.
- Dry skin.
- Breath smells like acetone.
- Stomach ache.
- The appearance of headaches.
- Lethargy, irritability, drowsiness, fatigue.
Most often, ketoacidosis develops in type 1 diabetes.
Ketoacidotic Coma
Ketoacidotic coma (diabetic coma) is an extreme manifestation of diabetic ketoacidosis.
Hyperosmolar Coma
Hyperosmolar coma is an acute complication of type 2 diabetes. There is an increase in blood glucose, a sharp increase in plasma osmolality (density), severe dehydration, and the absence of ketoacidosis.
Symptoms and signs.
- Thirst.
- Dry mouth.
- Frequent, profuse urination.
- Dry skin.
- Drowsiness, impaired consciousness.
Cytokine storm
The body's immune response to inflammation is too strong. Many cytokine molecules are released that stimulate the production of immune cells. In patients with COVID-19 with a cytokine storm, fulminant myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle) occurs, in which acute heart failure, cardiogenic shock, rapidly develops. This course of the disease requires immediate resuscitation measures.
A Dangerous Trio — Coronavirus, Diabetes, and Hypertension
Vascular pathologies by themselves increase the risk of complications from COVID-19. The combination of hypertension and diabetes is doubly dangerous. The course of the disease can be extremely difficult since the coronavirus affects all organs and tissues to one degree or another. Vascular thrombosis may occur. On this background, pathological microflora multiplies - pneumonia, respiratory, cardiac, renal failure develop. The success of preventing such a development of events depends on the speed of bringing blood pressure and blood sugar indicators back to normal.
Prevention of COVID-19
In general, the risks of COVID-19 infection in diabetic patients are the same as in healthy people and in patients with other pathologies of internal organs and systems. Patients with diabetes are recommended to.
- Follow all standard measures recommended by your state.
- Comply with all doctor's prescriptions.
- Continue to take medications prescribed by the doctor.
- Regularly monitor your blood sugar.
- Control weight (diet).
- Observe the drinking regime.
- Provide daily physical activity at home or outdoors.
COVID-19 Vaccines and Diabetes
Doctors and scientists don't have doubts that vaccination against coronavirus is the only chance to slow down the spread of infection. Tens of millions of diabetics around the world are asking whether diabetes and the coronavirus vaccine are compatible. The answer is an unequivocal yes.
The main advantage of the vaccine is the activation of immunity and the production of antibodies that destroy COVID-19. An individual, who contracted coronavirus, will not get sick, or the disease will be mild. Diabetics with a stable sugar level in a satisfactory condition are allowed to be vaccinated. This must be determined by the doctor and permit the vaccination.