Coronavirus and Diabetes

Posted on by Jordan Soblick

Long before anyone had heard of coronavirus, individuals living with diabetes faced a host of potential and serious health problems if they failed to keep a good handle on their condition. Diabetes leaves the body vulnerable to a wide range of ailments, such as cardiovascular disease, nerve damage, hypertension, kidney disease, and skin problems. Now, tragically, the consequences of COVID-19 can be added to that list.

Diabetes Significantly Increases the Risk Of Serious Complications Or Death From COVID-19

While diabetes doesn’t make someone more or less likely to acquire the virus, a recent study does suggest that people with diabetes who do get sick from coronavirus are at significantly greater risk for more severe complications, including death.

Published in the journal Diabetologia, the French study involved over 1,300 patients with both diabetes and COVID-19. The Researchers reported that 29 percent of those patients needed intubation for assisted mechanical ventilation and/or died within seven days of hospitalization. That rate was considerably higher than for those who did not have diabetes.

The increased possibility of a negative outcome or serious complications from coronavirus for diabetes patients should come as no surprise. Other studies have also concluded that patients with COVID-19 and diabetes typically have a more dire prognosis, most probably because of the concurring effect of multiple risk factors associated with diabetes.

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to rage on, which means all of us need to remain vigilant and take all of the precautions that we have become accustomed to since the virus arrived early this year. But for those with diabetes, who already put extraordinary effort every day into staying healthy, these increased risks serve to emphasize the importance of minimizing other factors that can leave people with diabetes more vulnerable to contracting and dying from the virus.

When people with diabetes do not control their diabetes and experience fluctuating blood sugars, they are generally at higher risk for several diabetes-related complications. Having heart disease or other conditions in conjunction with diabetes could increase the chance of the worst consequences of coronavirus from COVID-19 because your body’s ability to fight off an infection is diminished.

Managing and Monitoring Your Glucose Levels Is One Of The Best Things You Can Do To Minimize The Worst Consequences of Coronavirus

Simply put, effectively managing your diabetes is one of the most important things you can do to lower your risk of getting severely ill from COVID-19.  Vigilant, accurate, and regular monitoring of glucose levels is an indispensable part of those efforts. Fortunately, advancements in glucose monitoring technology have made controlling your glucose levels easier than ever.

Traditional glucose monitoring involved pricking a finger multiple times a day to get and test blood samples, and inconvenient and uncomfortable burden. Now, Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) allows those with diabetes to avoid the finger-pricking through the use of a tested, approved, and easy-to-use transceiver device.

With easy-to-use features that can help each person proactively record and track glucose levels—as well as provide valuable insights on data that helps manage exercise, meals, and daily health status—CGM is a game-changer for individuals with diabetes.

Whether you’ve been living with diabetes for years or if you’ve recently been on the lookout for the latest trends that can help beneficially impact your health, CGM could be the ideal solution. Contact us today to see if you qualify for CGM and access our guide to continuous glucose monitoring.

CALL US TO QUALIFY NOW

If you are not insured, or have a high deductible health insurance plan, you can still purchase the Freestyle Libre Reader and Sensors at extremely competitive prices. Prices starting as low as $99 per month

1-888-308-0094

*Fingersticks are required for treatment decisions when you see Check Blood Glucose symbol, when symptoms do not match system readings when you suspect readings may be in accurate, or when you experience symptoms that may be due to high or low blood glucose.

Reference 1: Data on file. Abbott Diabetes Care. 2, FreeStyle Libre 14 day User’s Manual

Indications and Important Safety Information

FreeStyle Libre and FreeStyle Libre 14 day Flash Glucose Monitoring systems are continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) devices indicated for replacing blood glucose testing and detecting trends and tracking patterns aiding in the detection of episodes of hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia, facilitating both acute and long-term therapy adjustments in persons (age 18 and older) with diabetes. The systems are intended for single patient use and require a prescription.

CONTRAINDICATIONS: Remove the sensor before MRI, CT scan, X-ray, or diathermy treatment.

WARNINGS/LIMITATIONS: Do not ignore symptoms that may be due to low or high blood glucose, hypoglycemic unawareness, or dehydration. Check sensor glucose readings with a blood glucose meter when Check Blood Glucose symbol appears, when symptoms do not match system readings, or when readings are suspected to be inaccurate. The system does not have alarms unless the sensor is scanned, and the system contains small parts that may be dangerous if swallowed. The system is not approved for pregnant women, persons on dialysis, or critically-ill population. Sensor placement is not approved for sites other than the back of the arm and standard precautions for transmission of blood borne pathogens should be taken. The built-in blood glucose meter is not for use on dehydrated, hypotensive, in shock, hyperglycemic-hyperosmolar state, with or without ketosis, neonates, critically-ill patients, or for diagnosis or screening of diabetes. When using FreeStyle LibreLink app, access to a blood glucose monitoring system is required as the app does not provide one. Review all product information before use or contact Abbott Toll Free (855-632-8658) or visit www.freestylelibre.us for detailed indications for use and safety information.html. . FreeStyle, Libre, and related brand marks are trademarks of Abbott Diabetes Care Inc. in various jurisdictions. Other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. ©2018 Abbott. ADC-09691 vLO 10/18

*The FreeStyle LibreLink app and the FreeStyle Libre 14 day reader have similar but not identical features. Fingersticks are required for treatment decisions when you see Check Blood Glucose symbol, when symptoms do not match system readings, when you suspect readings may be inaccurate, or when you experience symptoms that may be due to high or low blood glucose.

The FreeStyle Libre 2 app and the FreeStyle Libre 2 reader have similar but not identical features. Fingersticks are required for treatment decisions when you see Check Blood Glucose symbol and when your glucose alarms and readings from the system do not match symptoms or expectations

‡‡‡Based on the sensor being replaced once every 14 days, and scanned at least once every 8 hours.

§§§Glucose readings are not available during 1-hour warm-up, when sensor is too hot or too cold, when you see an error or "LO" or "HI" message, or no current glucose reading