Diabetes and coronavirus – are diabetics more at risk from Covid-19? – The Sun

Here's everything we know about how coronavirus affects people with the disease  and what they should do to keep safe.

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Are diabetics more at risk of Covid-19?

The latest NHS data shows diabetes more than doubles your risk of dying from coronavirus.

Patients with the condition accounted for 32 per cent of all coronavirus deaths in hospitals.

The study reveals Brits with type 1 diabetes are three and a half times more likely to die if they catch coronavirus, while those with type 2 face double the risk.

It also shows

bese patients with the condition and those with badly controlled blood sugar levels were at particular risk.

Lead researcher Professor Jonathan Valabhji said the findings were "worrying news".

And Bridget Turner, Director of Policy at Diabetes UK, said: “This new data sheds much-needed light on which groups of people with diabetes are more likely to experience poor outcomes if they catch coronavirus."

But she added: "It’s very important to remember that the risk of dying from coronavirus – for people with and without diabetes – remains very low, and that as cases of coronavirus decline, the risk to everyone of catching the disease will reduce in turn.”

What's the risk of catching coronavirus if I have diabetes?

Most people with diabetes, who don't have any other health conditions, are no more likely to catch coronavirus than other people.

But they are at greater risk of having more severe symptoms and developing complications from the virus so it's important to be extra cautious about following advice on how to avoid the virus.

"Everyone with diabetes, including those with type 1, type 2 and gestational, is at risk of developing a severe illness if they get coronavirus, but the way it affects you can vary from person to person," Diabetes UK's website says.

Coronavirus is also likely to make it harder for people with diabetes to keep their blood sugar levels stable.

"Your body tries to fight the illness by releasing stored glucose (sugar) into your blood stream to give you energy. But your body can’t produce insulin to cope with this, so your blood sugars rise," Diabetes UK says.

"Your body is working overtime to fight the illness, making it harder to manage your diabetes. This means you’re more at risk of having serious blood sugar highs and lows, as well as longer-term problems with your eyes, feet and other areas of your body."

People with diabetes who do contract coronavirus need to be extract vigilant about keeping their blood glucose levels on target and follow the guidelines for when they are ill.

This includes checking blood glucose levels more often if they monitor their levels at home.

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Is diabetes considered to be an underlying health condition?

The NHS and WHO has said diabetes is one of the health conditions that may increase your risk of having complications from coronavirus.

But most people with diabetes are not considered "extremely vulnerable" to coronavirus unless they are also pregnant or have another health high risk condition which includes people who have:

• received an organ transplant and remain on ongoing immunosuppression medication
• cancer and are undergoing active chemotherapy or radiotherapy
• cancers of the blood or bone marrow such as leukaemia who are at any stage of treatment
• severe chest conditions like cystic fibrosis or severe asthma – requiring hospital admissions or courses of steroid tablets
• severe diseases of body systems such as kidney disease (dialysis)
• a condition, or are taking medicine, that makes them much more likely to get infections
• a serious heart condition

Diabetes UK says it is unclear how coronavirus affects people in remission from type two diabetes. They advise everyone, including people in diabetes remission, to follow the stay at home measures.

Should I self-isolate if I have diabetes?

No, unless you have coronavirus symptoms, or are one of the million or so Brits who have been asked to shield for 12 weeks, you don't need to self-isolate.

If you are a diabetic with coronavirus symptoms you should follow the same advice for everyone else stay home for seven days.

But you also need to be extra mindful about making sure your diabetes is under control and follow the "sick day rules" for people with diabetes.

"If you routinely check your blood sugar at home you'll probably need to do it more often," Diabetes UK says.
"If you don't check your blood sugar levels at home, be aware of the signs of a hyper (hyperglycaemia), which include passing more urine than normal (especially at night), being very thirsty, headaches, tiredness and lethargy. You should contact your GP practice if you have hyper symptoms."

It is also important people with diabetes who are sick stay hydrated and eat little and often.

Key workers with diabetes are still able to go to work, according to Diabetes UK, provided they follow advice about social distancing, hand washing and use personal protection equipment if it's available.

Will I get a shielding letter if I'm diabetic?

Unless you have another underlying health condition on the "extremely vulnerable" list, outlined above, you don'd need to shield and you won't receive a letter from the NHS.

Instead, like all Brits you should follow the government's stay at home and social distancing advice.

If you have been told to shield, order your diabetes medication or insulin from a pharmacy online.

The NHS has said there is no need to stockpile insulin, diabetes medicines, testing machines or other equipment.

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