World Diabetes Day: How Covid-19 made people with diabetes more vulnerable

While Covid19 spared none people with diabetes were among the hardest hit The infectious disease not only raised the risk of severe disease progression and death among diabetics affecting even the recovery it also contributed towards the burden of diabetes in the countryWorld Diabetes Day is observed annually on November 14 to raise awareness on the high blood sugar condition and related consequencesIndia known as the diabetes capital of the world is home to one in six diabetics in the world The country has also suffered significantly from Covid19While on an average diabetes reduces life expectancy by 410 years increasing the risk of death due to other comorbidities which include heart attacks kidney failures and infections Covid infection fast forwarded that among people with diabetesDiabetes increased inflammatory response among Covid patients spiking their blood sugar levels It then complicated the course of Covid resulting in excess morbidity and mortality as well as posing severe challenges in the recovery of patientsDuring Covid patients were succumbing to it not because of the original disease but because despite all other efforts their glucose levels remained high Thus recognising glucose as a vital sign very similar to blood pressure and pulse rate respiratory rate became more necessary during the pandemic Jothydev Kesavadev from Jothydevs Diabetes Research Centres Kerala told IANSStudies from all over the world show that the majority of the deaths from Covid were linked to high glucose values and this includes both patients with no diabetes and with the new onset of high glucose he addedFurther the use of steroids to control the serious manifestations of Covid19 worsened the glucose levels in the patientsHigh blood sugar levels coupled with increased use of steroids also led to other complications such as an unprecedented surge in cases of mucormycosis commonly known as black fungus It is a fungal infection which occurs by inhalation of spores and can disseminate to various organs rapidlyAccording to a recent study published in Diabetes and Metabolic Syndrome Clinical Research and Reviews more than 86 per cent of mucormycosis or black fungus cases related to Covid in India had uncontrolled glucose valuesWhile the Covid cases are closely related to diabetes mucormycosis is also very closely related to diabetes in Covid Whenever the glucose is high there is a deranged immune mechanism and in the presence of an infection it is persuaded rapidly Kesavadev saidAnother study published in the same journal showed that people with Type2 diabetes who also suffered Covid19 were more likely to experience severe fatigue than those who did not have the infectious disease emerging as a major roadblock in the recovery of patients infected with SARSCoV2Moreover among diabetes patients those with increased fatigue level post Covid19 also had increased postprandial blood glucose levelsCovid also contributed to new onset of diabetes in many people particularly the young On one hand Covidinduced lockdowns increased diabetes cases as people spent more time indoors while eating more and exercising lessOn the other hand Covid also contributed to nearly 25 per cent rise in diabetic patients in the country according to an analysis of OPD data from a private hospital in DelhiDoctors found that among patients with confirmed Covid19 infections there was nearly 25 per cent of new onset of diabetic patients Stress induced hyperglycemia high blood sugar was seen in 10 per cent of patients who had Covid19 infectionThe younger population is increasingly affected We have seen that happening during Covid19 epidemic Increasing number of young people with more severe diabetes are now being seen Dr Anoop Misra FortisCDOC Centre of Excellence for Diabetes Metabolic Diseases and Endocrinology New Delhi told IANSAs per a recent study among the younger generation in India below the age of 30 years there is a rapid increase in the occurrence of diabetes over the last 10 yearsFor these diabetes as a disease will result in complications after 10 to 15 years Imagine a situation where more and more people are developing diabetes at the age of 25 years or 30 years which means even during the productive age group by the time they are 35 years or 40 years they will start developing complications if the disease is not treated properly Kesavadev saidThere is an urgent need to decrease the screening age of diabetes to 25 years from the current 30 years in India Dr Misra said adding that there is increasing urgency to ensure that young people follow correct lifestyle practices including more exercise correct food choices and maintenance of weight to normal or even leaner categoryWhile diabetes cannot be treated it can be controlled and reversed by adopting a healthy lifestyle diet and having proper sleep as well as exercising for at least half an hour every day suggested the expertsAlso read Meet the Mumbai urban planner who is 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