Summary

The article underscores the heightened risk of severe Covid-19 outcomes for individuals with diabetes or prediabetes, emphasizing the importance of awareness and blood sugar management during the pandemic.

Abstract

The article on undefined highlights the critical intersection of Covid-19 and diabetes, revealing that a significant portion of the American population with diabetes remains undiagnosed, which is particularly alarming given the pandemic. It cites data from the CDC showing that 30.3 million Americans have diabetes, with 7.2 million unaware of their condition. The piece stresses that diabetes is a major risk factor for severe Covid-19 illness, with evidence from Doctor Stephen Smith's successful treatment of Covid-19 patients using hydroxychloroquine-azithro therapy. The article advises those with diabetes or prediabetes to be vigilant about their condition, suggesting that improved blood sugar management could mitigate the risk of Covid-19 complications. It also encourages adherence to social distancing and self-isolation protocols, while providing resources for further information on diabetes management during the pandemic.

Opinions

The author suggests that the risk of severe Covid-19 illness is significantly higher for individuals with diabetes or prediabetes, based on both clinical outcomes and expert opinions such as those from Doctor Stephen Smith.
There is an underlying concern that many Americans are unknowingly living with diabetes, which poses a serious public health issue, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The article conveys optimism about the potential of hydroxychloroquine-azithro therapy in treating Covid-19 patients with diabetes, as reported by Doctor Smith's team.
The author emphasizes the importance of proactive diabetes management during the pandemic, implying that it could be life-saving in the context of Covid-19.
There is a sense of urgency in the article, pushing for immediate action to improve blood sugar levels, rather than viewing diabetes management as a long-term, gradual process.

Covid-19 and Diabetes — the Ultimate Risk

Do you have diabetes? You may have it without knowing. That is precisely what happened to me; it could happen to you.

Here is a reality check from the CDC: According to their 2020 National Diabetes Statistics Report, as of 2015, 30.3 million Americans have diabetes, and another 84.1 million have prediabetes.

Nearly 1 in 4 four adults living with diabetes — 7.2 million Americans — didn’t know they had the condition. Only 11.6 percent of adults with prediabetes knew they had it.

Are you among the many millions of unaware Americans?

As you can see above, a significant portion of the US population remains unaware of their diabetic condition. This could be you, or someone you love.

In normal times these numbers are significant and reflect a very concerning health trend in our country.

Today, these statistics take on an entirely new and much more ominous meaning.

Data shows that having diabetes is a significant risk factor in hospitalization and dying from this virus.

]If you are unfamiliar with the symptoms, or are concerned that you may have diabetes, here is a helpful link that discusses the things you need to understand.

The information that follows should make it apparent just how critical it is that you understand these symptoms and respond appropriately.

Experts in every field are searching for therapies to stem the tide of this pandemic. One such expert is Doctor Stephen Smith of the Smith Center for Infectious Diseases and Urban Health in East Orange, New Jersey.

Doctor Smith and his team have treated over 50 Covid-19 patients with the hydroxychoroquine-azithro combination. Their success with this therapy has been astounding.

One of their most promising outcomes has been that no patient receiving this therapy for five days or more was intubated. This result highlights the promise that these common drugs hold for changing the course of this pandemic.

The team provides more support for their clinical outcomes and the hope that such efforts bring to a bewildered population.

But, there are other more astonishing statistics coming from these efforts.

According to Doctor Smith, “The more we see this disease, the more we understand that severe rapid COVID disease is in diabetics or prediabetics… we don’t have anyone in our group over 80 that was not diabetic or prediabetic that was intubated,”

He also stated that they did not have anyone under 70 who do not have a high BMI or was not prediabetic or diabetic who has become seriously ill. Chinese researchers saw similar trends with more hospitalizations, ICU care, and mortality among patients with diabetes.

This information places all of us with diabetes squarely in the bulls-eye of Covid-19.

Are we all at equal risk?

Whether we are or not, we should operate on the assumption that the answer is yes.

One of the most troubling issues with high blood sugar is that it causes an inflammatory condition throughout the body. Inflammation puts stress on our systems and makes it more difficult for our bodies to respond with healing. Essentially, this inflammation is the root of all evil when it comes to diabetes and complications.

Non-diabetic people do not have this hurdle to clear. If they are otherwise healthy, their body and immune system will respond at appropriate levels. They are much less likely, therefore, to have a severe response to this infection.

But, we know that having high blood sugar puts us at risk for all manner of complications and other perils.

This pandemic is pointing out for all to see just how vulnerable we are.

In this time of Covid-19, close attention to our management and blood sugar levels is more critical than ever. It is not too late to start improving your A1c. While it does take time for our body to heal from long-suffering inflammation, incremental healing is better than none at all.

Our best bet to avoid this pandemic is to follow the social distancing and self-isolation protocols. As much as possible, we must try to avoid exposing ourselves unnecessarily.

But we can do more.

We can take our blood sugar management more seriously. Management can often feel overwhelming and pointless. The risks seem abstract and beyond the horizon.

The horizon is now at your doorstep.

Complications from high blood sugar are not years or decades away. The coronavirus makes the potential consequences of inaction quite real and imminent.

Now is not the time for the status quo in managing our diabetes. it is also not the time to ignore possible symptoms of diabetes.

The stakes are too high, and the cost is the ultimate price to pay.