Type 2 diabetes and obesity are risk factors for COVID-19, leading to increased risk of severe illness in people who develop COVID-19. A condition known as diabetic ketoacidosis can ensue making one’s blood sugar levels dangerously high.
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For those living with type 2 diabetes, being more vulnerable to COVID-19 is a sad reality and they could develop a severe illness if they do get coronavirus.
Falling ill to the virus will make one’s blood sugar go all over the place.
The body will try to fight the illness by releasing stored glucose into the bloodstream to help give more energy.
However, the body can’t produce enough or any insulin to cope with this and as such blood sugars rise.
Diabetes UK said: “Your body’s 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, potentially leading to DKA (diabetic ketoacidosis) or HHS (hyperosmolar hyperglycaemic state).
“For most people, coronavirus is a mild illness, but some people develop a more serious form of the virus and sadly could die.”
What is diabetic ketoacidosis?
The NHS explained: “Diabetic ketoacidosis is a serious problem that can happen in people with diabetes if their body starts to run out of insulin.
“When this happens, harmful substances called ketones build up in the body, which can be life-threatening if it’s not found and treated quickly.
“DKA mainly affects people with type 1 diabetes but can sometimes affect people with type 2 diabetes.
“If you have diabetes, it’s important to be aware of the risk and know what to do if you get DKA.”
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Recent data from NHS England revealed that those who became so unwell with coronavirus that they needed to go to hospital, the risk of dying is higher for people living with diabetes than people without the condition.
The study looked at the number of people who had died in hospital as a result of coronavirus.
Type 2 diabetes and heart problems are also linked which increases the risk of death from COVID-19.
Therefore, proper management of type 2 diabetes is extremely pertinent, now more than ever.
Diabetes UK added: “While the UK government has recently eased some lockdown restrictions in England, the advice for people with diabetes across the UK is still to stay at home as much as possible and to minimise contact with people outside your household.
“If you do get coronavirus, it’s really important that you follow your sick day rules.
“This will help you to keep your blood sugars in range as much as possible, so that you can stay well and fight the virus.”
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