Covid and its Connection with Diabetes

Over the past two years, our society’s attention has been preoccupied on this uninvited guest, “Covid-19”. It not only disrupted the social-culture environment in many countries, but it also affected people on an individual basis, whether it’s the virtual school for teenagers or forced to become unemployed for adults. Moreover, this guest has no intention of leaving, and it is carrying one common known chronic health condition: diabetes.

How are they correlated?

To understand how two seemingly unrelated sicknesses can influence another, we first need to understand what coronavirus does in one’s body. Dr. Brittany Busse from Drug Target Review, explains the hidden mechanics behind how coronavirus affects your organs and tissues. She notes coronavirus “inserts itself into cells by binding to the cellular receptor angiotensin-converting enzyme-2”. This specific cell receptor plays a crucial role in blood vessels, respiratory cells, and small intestinal cells. Out of all, pancreatic beta cells-cells responsible for secreting insulin and amylin in the pancreatic islet-are greatly affected. Consequently, patients with a history of diabetes often have worsened conditions after being infected with covid.

Consequences

Statistically speaking, diabetes has an occurring rate between 7% to 30% and is one of the more popular commodities that comes with Covid-19. Moreover, it often leads to more severe cases where “hospital admission, severe pneumonia, and higher mortality” happen frequently.

Individuals who are most likely to be affected

Although the situation has gone better in many countries, it is still in everyone's best interest to avoid crowded situations and maintain good hygienic habits as diabetes isn’t the only consequence of Covid-19. In mild cases, it causes fever; more severely, it can inhibit airways and cause difficulties in breathing. However, individuals with a family background of type 1 diabetes and insulin-based diabetes should be especially cautious as Covid for them comes in a “package” with commodities.

To sum up, it is increasingly evident that Covid-19 will be a part of our lives for a long time. It is not only highly transmissible, it is also related to many other chronic health conditions, which makes the virus more dangerous. Therefore, we need to maintain a safe distance from others, choose open, well-ventilated spaces, and develop a habit of wearing masks; not only will you be protected, it will benefit those around you.