Diabetes and Covid-19 Implications & Connections

NHS Details the Implications, Dangers and Connections Between Diabetes and Covid-19

During the initial breakout, Covid-19 created panic among diabetics as they were found to be highly susceptible to the more serious effects of the viral infection. As time progressed, facts got mingled with assumptions, creating further panic and confusion around the matter.

The NHS had detailed connections, implications and dangers surrounding Covid-19 and diabetics earlier, but now they are also keeping the data freshly updated to reflect new findings. A quick look through the findings shared by the NHS and other authoritative medical research institutions is necessary for the general public to understand how the pandemic and the chronic condition are interconnected.

People with Diabetes are Not More Susceptible to Catching the Novel Coronavirus

Research shows that people with diabetes are not more susceptible to catching the viral disease than someone who isn’t diabetic. This applies to all types of diabetics, including, but not limited to those inflicted with Type I or Type II diabetes. It should be duly noted that the situation has a possibility of changing once a diabetic has already caught the new coronavirus, but there has been no indication to suggest that they are more likely to contract it than the average, healthy population.

Diabetes and Covid-19 is Not Always a Deadly Combination

There has been a significantly higher rate of mortality within diabetes patients, as compared to others without diabetes or heart conditions. However, the percentage of deaths among diabetics, post contraction of the disease is not high enough to consider the combination as immediately deadly. Nevertheless, it can and should be considered as potentially serious, with measures in place to immediately hospitalise the patient in case the need to do so becomes apparent. In the majority of cases though, diabetics often only experience mild to moderate symptoms, recovering without the need for hospitalisation.

Every Diabetic is Still Susceptible to a Potentially Deadly Complication, After Contracting the Virus

As detailed earlier, the chance of Covid-19 leading to a serious condition is not an assured fact, but there is no doubt that all diabetics are susceptible to rapid health degradation in a few of the cases. This condition is complicated and how it will affect the patient will differ from person to person. It is still possible to define what happens in relatively simpler terms, as done below.

• Covid-19 can throw a diabetic’s medically acquired blood sugar balance off, resulting in rapid changes within a short time
• This happens largely because the body’s immune response leads to releasing more glucose into the patient’s blood, which is extremely dangerous when you have diabetes
• Even with medication, managing blood sugar becomes a challenge, and that can lead to either diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) or Hyperosmolar Hyperglycaemic state (HHS)

If the above conditions are observed, the immune system will only get weaker without the due measures, and the patient may expire. Unfortunately, even hospitalisation may not be able to save the patient if the condition is too severe or advanced.

Getting Diabetes Life Insurance is Possible Even Now

It might seem counterintuitive and a lot of people in and around the UK have already been turned down after applying for life insurance this year. However, that is neither a rule, nor an universal fact. There are insurers who are offering diabetes life insurance even now in the United Kingdom, as pointed out in this news story on https://www.im-insured.co.uk/news/diabetes-and-coronavirus/.

This news post was posted on I’m Insured, who are themselves an excellent resource for finding and comparing insurance quotes from insurers who are still offering life insurance coverage to diabetics. Aside from diabetes life insurance, the news story also highlights certain key aspects regarding how patients with Type I and Type II diabetes should try to shield themselves from contracting the new coronavirus.

Ethnic Complications Related to Diabetes and Covid-19

As it is with most viral diseases and even certain types of diabetes itself, some ethnic groups are more susceptible towards developing serious, life-threatening conditions after getting infected by the pandemic. In accordance with a study published by The Institute for Fiscal Studies, the following ethnic groups are more likely to experience severe symptoms and even mortality, after contracting the new coronavirus.

• Caribbean black population
• African black population
• South Asian population (Indians, Pakistanis and Bangladeshis)

Someone belonging to any of the ethnic groups mentioned here will need to practice extra caution, so that they can avoid getting infected by the virus, especially if they have:

• Diabetes Type I, Types II or gestational
• Kidney disease
• Heart disease
• Hypertension
• Asthma
• Pre-existing lung infections such as pneumonia

As mentioned previously, susceptibility is more or less the same for any individual, whether they have diabetes or not, but additional factors such as one’s ethnic heritage and pre-existing conditions do come into play after they get infected. The best course of action would be to stay at home as much as possible if someone does have diabetes, and practice extreme safety precautions when going out is not optional.

Guest Article. Contains a sponsored link.