Healthy people who have been infected with the new coronavirus have an increased risk of developing diabetes and needing insulin therapy, experts warn. According to them, COVID-19 can affect insulin-producing pancreatic cells, he writes The Guardian.
Recently, there has been an alarming increase in the number of people who develop diabetes shortly after being cured of COVID-19. Moreover, some patients with severe forms may have abnormal blood glucose levels even while they are infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which significantly complicates their treatment and reduces their prognosis of survival.
One possible explanation would be that the SARS-CoV-2 virus infects pancreatic cells through the same ACE2 receptor (angiotensin converting enzyme) that is found on the surface of lung cells and thus prevents the production of insulin, the hormone that regulates blood glucose. .
Another theory would be the increased level of inflammation in the body during SARS-CoV-2 infection, which influences the body’s response to insulin.
Professor Shuibing Chen, the author of the study that brought this finding to light, says it is not yet clear whether the changes triggered by COVID-19 are long-lasting.
Some patients, especially those with severe forms who needed medical care in ATI wards, had alarmingly high, fluctuating glucose levels, but these changes were not permanent, Chen said at the European Association’s annual meeting for Diabetes study.
Another study found that diabetes is among the most important comorbidities that influence the risk of severe COVID-19.
Other conditions that can adversely affect the course of the disease are obesity, obstructive pulmonary disease, cancer, chronic kidney disease, high blood pressure and liver disease (hepatitis, hepatic steatosis, cirrhosis).
According to doctors, the risk of developing a severe form of COVID-19 in diabetic patients increases by up to 35%, depending on glycemic control, complications and other comorbidities.
How to protect yourself if you are in the risk group
Persons suffering from one or more of the conditions described above should take a few additional protective measures in addition to the COVID vaccination, proper hand washing, wearing a mask and keeping a physical distance of more than 2 meters.
These measures consist of:
- limiting physical interaction with other people
- compliance with the vaccination schedule (especially the flu vaccine and the pneumococcal)
- compliance with the treatments recommended by the doctor for pre-existing conditions
- avoid delay oncological treatments or otherwise
- maintaining optimal body weight through a healthy diet and daily exercise
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