Diabetes mellitus is generally a major risk factor for the development of severe pneumonia and sepsis due to virus infections. Patients with DM and hypertension havea 2-fold increase in the risk of getting a severe form of COVID requiring intensive care unit (ICU) admission and oxygen therapy. Recent reports suggest that diabetes control deteriorated across the world during this pandemic. In India, it is estimated that the average fasting glucose levels have gone up by 25 mg and HbA1 by 0.4 % among diabetic patients in the second half of 2020.
Here are the 10 tips for better management of diabetes during the COVID 19 pandemic
- Medications and consultations: Try and continue your medications without interruption and book an appointment with our doctor using an online platform or contact him over the phone, through messaging, or smartphone-based applications. Urgent and face-to-face consultation with your doctor is mandatory if you have very high blood glucose levels, HbA1C >10%, orpositive urine ketone status.
- Self-monitoring of blood glucose: Try and keep a track of your blood glucose levels using a glucometer. You may do a few readings a week (if you are on oral anti-diabetic agents) to at least a reading every day at a different time point (if you are on a multi-dose insulin regimen).
- Diet: People are more likely to be sedentary due to due to the lock-down and hence calorie and carbohydrate restriction is important especially since people tend to consume more food when cooped up in the home confinements. Attention to nutrition and adequate protein intake is important. Keep yourself hydrated and prefer water over fruit juice, aerated beverages, and sugar syrups. Prefer complex carbohydrates, and include an ample amount of vegetables and two portions of fruits in your diet. Avoid refined food and limit food items rich in salt and high in saturated fat.
- Exercise: Diabetic patients are encouraged to take up 45 minutes of moderate activity every day. Exercise has been shown to improve immunity and helps to reduce back pain, constipation, and weight gain. It increases energy levels, improves mood, and provides good sleep. Try and avoid crowded places for exercise.
- Stress management:These are unprecedented situations and can trigger a variety of emotional responses like anxiety, frustration, disappointment, and stress. Stress can elevate your blood sugar, making it tougher to achieve your HbA1Cand blood sugar goals.Patients must candidly discuss their issues with caregivers, friends, and family members. Yoga, meditation, reading, and breathing exercise may help. Book an appointment with a psychologist if needed.
- Smoking and drinking: Unhealthy habits of smoking, alcohol consumption, and betel chewing should be avoided. Smoking not only makes insulin ineffective and achieving glucose targets tougher but also increases the risk of severe chest infections.Smokers are also at high risk of heart and kidney disease.
- Selfcare: It is important to attend to your personal needs. Make sure that you are well hydrated, moisturize your skin if there is dryness, examine your feet regularly, and use footwear.
- Connect online:Try and connect with online diabetes support groups where diabetic patients with common interests can come together “virtually” to ensure mutual support and self-help, share experiences, and ask questions. It will not only reduces the stress but helps to improve the quality of care.
- Reduce the risk: Exercise at most caution to reduce the risk of getting COVID 19 infection by social distancing, wearing a mask, and frequent hand washing. The risk of category C disease is high among diabetic patients.
- Vaccination: In addition to getting your COVID 19 vaccine jab, try and geta flu shot and a pneumonia shot.