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Coronovirus & diabetics

8K views 21 replies 10 participants last post by  itissteve 
#1 ·
I keep reading that diabetics are the 2nd most at risk to die from this virus.

Anyone understand why ? If one is in good control I guess I do not follow the risk.

THoughts?
 
#2 ·
I do think they're referring to uncontrolled diabetics of which there sadly are so many.
 
#4 ·
Jenny Ruhl posted this on her bloodsugar101 Facebook page.

Folks, by now you have probably heard it repeated many times that the people most likely to die from this new coronavirus have preexisting conditions that include diabetes.This is because prolonged exposure to high blood sugars damages the small nerves that play an important role in the immune system. In the shorter term, blood that is full of glucose impedes the production and circulation of the white blood cells that fight infection and promote the growth of bacteria.

Because there has been almost zero testing in the US and will not be for likely another few weeks to a month, the actual prevalence of the virus is unknown. So now, more than ever, if you have high blood sugars you MUST get them down to normal levels.

You can do this. The key is to cut way back on starches and sugars, including the "plant based" ones that have become so trendy of late. Using the technique described below people have reported being able to bring down A1cs to the safe, normal range starting from as high as 13%.

I hear a lot of people opining that this is nothing more than another cold, and for all our sakes I would like to believe that is true. But so far it has show itself to be a "cold" that kills people with crappy immune systems, and unless your A1c is down in the 5% range, you should assume that includes you.

Use the technique described below now, and get your immune system back into working order BEFORE you need it!

https://www.bloodsugar101.com/how-to-lower-your-blood-sugar
 
#8 ·
It is never too late my friend. Take a look at fellow Canadian Dr. Jason Fung's substantial work with intermittent fasting which can significantly reduce BG by not eating all the time. Lots of science on this. starting with no food after 8 pm until noon (16-8 intermittent fasting) you will get lower readings followed by reduce carbs during your eating window= success. Sorry can't tell you what 8.8 means, I don't speak Canadian. Go for it.
 
#7 ·
Anyone seen some hard numbers?
I haven't yet.

I'd like to see more scientific explanations of why diabetes can make the complications of COVID-19 more serious. I mean, I have read that the virus does better in a higher-glucose environment and that makes sense to me from a biological standpoint. I have taken that to mean that having an A1c and random finger-stick readings not far from those of a non-diabetic works in my favor even if it does not remove it completely as a risk factor. But there may be factors beyond that which haven't even been identified. COVID-19 has been with us only a few months. It hasn't received tons of study yet.

Ditto for hypertension, also mentioned as a complicating factor. I have my BP well under control through medication (and diet and exercise). Does that put me at higher risk anyway or is that statement only for people with poorly-controlled hypertension? I haven't seen enough trustworthy documentation to clarify that for myself.

But I will admit to not looking quite that hard yet. I've been moderating my news intake because it's hard to find news that's not dominated by COVID-19 coverage and there's only so much of that I can handle right now. :plain:
 
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#9 ·
scneilson, let me help you (and others): conversion calculator. 8.8 mmol/L converts to about 159 mg/dL.

Kind of like the metric system, the mmol/L ("Canadian") scale actually is used everywhere in the world except in the U.S. Since this site is largely U.S.-centric, however, mg/dL is the measurement most commonly seen here.
 
#10 ·
Thanks for the effort to educate me...spouse has tried for years with little success! BTW The JDRA reports on their website that as to type 1 DM folks: good BG control means one is not at higher risk of infection because of their DM, and if infected, if you have good BG control one with DM is not at higher risk of significant complications.

On the other hand...wait for it... you know what is next....if you are having chronic high BG, you are at greater risk for the virus infection, and then serious complications. Many of us guessed this without the expertise to actually know it, just as I guess this outcome applies to type 2s, without knowing it to be a fact.
 
#11 ·
The JDRA reports on their website that as to type 1 DM folks: good BG control means one is not at higher risk of infection because of their DM, and if infected, if you have good BG control one with DM is not at higher risk of significant complications.
Thanks for the data point! Everything about this coronavirus is so new that it's good to see groups which should know confirming specifics rather than reducing it to "diabetic = yikes!".

Now to worry about my other risk factors....:wink2:
 
#15 ·
I went to a store on July 30th. 100% of the people were wearing masks, me included.
I was there about 2 hours then came home. The next day I was talking to a friend on the phone.
I had this small cough and she said it's probably allergies.

The cough was getting worse. That night I had the hardest and roughest night of coughing I'd had in my life.
The next day the hard coughing abruptly stopped but my sides ached from coughing so much.
The 3rd day I took my temp and it was 101. I called my doctor and the nurse said, "Don't come here. Go to the Emergency."
I was so sick I told her I could barely walk let alone drive anywhere.
She told me, "Call an ambulance."

I don't have the money for an ambulance so I made an appointment with CVS Minute Clinic.
I'd always had good luck with this one NP. Unfortunately she wasn't there this day.
The NP who was there was very poor. She took my temp and BP and then asked me if she could take my BG (which was 147, not good, not bad.)
To make a long story short she did nothing for me. Every time I asked her a question her answer was, "I don't know." She behaved like she didn't want to be there.
I told her my symptoms and asked her if I had Covid-19 and she said she didn't know.
Here is the list of symptoms I told her:
Hard, rough Cough
Shortness of breath
Loss of smell/taste
Vomiting
Fatigue
Lightheaded/dizziness
Fever
Blurry Vision
Nose itches/tickles
AND she said, "You're blood pressure is 172/85. That's dangerously high."
I asked her if there was anything I could take to ease all of this and she said, "No" and told me to "go to the Emergency room."
I asked her what they would do once I got there and she said they'd get my BP down.
I asked her how they do that and she said....wait for it...... "I don't know." :rolleyes:
In 14 days of having this flu I lost 13 lbs. I never ate a thing cause I felt nauseous all the time.
When I'd get up from lying down I'd have to stand for a minute because of the dizziness. I had to walk slowly as I was so dizzy.
I could barely read things on TV because my vision was blurry. More blurry than a blood sugar high.

It's now been 2 months and I still have this odd cough. My nose tickles as if there is something blowing around in there and it strangely itches. I read it may take 3-6 months to get completely over it. The other symptoms have gone away. My vision cleared up.
I still have shortness of breath.
The first time I mowed the front yard after I was better it took me 4 tries when usually I mow it in one try.
I was so out of breath.
I remember President Trump saying at the beginning,
"It's just the flu!" So I wasn't too concerned. Boy was HE wrong. Let me tell you, this is no regular flu.
It is something evil and it doesn't go completely away. They did something awful in that Wuhan lab and I believe in the end they will pay for it.
I told my sister about me being sick and she was upset that I didn't call her. But when I was sick I just didn't think of those things. My cucumber and green pepper plants died from no water.
Somehow my tomato plant made it...LOL
When/if you get Covid-19, if you're anything like me you'll mostly just deal with it.
I got my lab results back and the covid-19 antibody test says I am positive. So I guess that settles that.
I'm not complaining, just sharing.
 
#16 ·
Wow, Vanessa, that was quite a trial! I'm glad you're better -- mostly, anyway. And I appreciate your checking in here. I hope some posters we haven't heard from in a while are just busy and not sick.
 
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#17 ·
Glad to hear you are doing better.

I'm guessing you went to the ER and were tested there, did they do anything for your BP? Were you already on BP meds? I mention it because I get some funny looks when I cough in public, my cough is caused by my BP med.
 
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#18 ·
I didn't go to the ER. I didn't get tested for Covid when I was sick. I got tested for Covid antibody's last Monday at the doctors office. I tested positive. I don't take BP medicine as my BP is good except for when I had Covid. When I cough in public I assume I'm getting funny looks...don't know if I really am. But I know what you mean.
 
#19 · (Edited)
Stay home guys, my gm with diabetes already died... People with diabetes are more likely to have serious complications from covid-19. In general they are more likely to have severe symptoms from any virus, not only from covid. So those guys who said they are not afraid, check the cases on the internet and see how much people dies. Almost all my family got infected and only grandmother died. Thanks to the new care management software which was implemented to our hospital. Now the doctors cn manage everything faster, so they manage to save almost everybody.
 
#20 ·
Stay home guys, my gm with diabetes already died...
I'm sorry to learn of that, Mrlkari. Parts of Canada certainly are having a tough time battling the virus and diabetics have always been considered at higher risk for complications from it. So it's particularly risky in some spots right now. Stay safe yourself! We're learning more all the time about how to contain this coronavirus. Too late for your grandmother, but I hope we can spare more people from COVID-19.

btw welcome to the site! Are you diabetic yourself? How have you been managing through this? Any issue in particular bring you here?
 
#22 ·
Well, good on ya for taking care of your mom. That's quite honorable -- but sometimes challenging. Please feel free to take a look around the forums to learn more and feel free to ask any questions that come up between you and your mother.
 
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