Diabetes and CovID-19

[MichaelJH]

Whilst diabetes does not increase your risk of catching Covid-19 it can make the infection. When diabetics get an infection their BG (blood glucose) can rise rapidly - a state known as hyperglycemia. As the BG rises ketoacidosis (ketones in the blood). This is more common insulin dependant diabetes. This usually occurs as BG passes 14. However, with a Covid-19 infection this occurs earlier at around 10 or even below. Therefore if you are diabetic and develop a fever or continuous cough it is important to check for ketones as well as well as your BG. Fully blown ketoacidosis is very unpleasant and potentially fatal.

Test strips can be prescribed by your GP or DSN (diabetes specialist nurse).

Please note this is not fake news. You can Google for articles by Professor Partha Kar one of the country's top diabetes consultants.

[MichaelJH Heart Star]

This is no attempt to scare people with half truths but to help them protect themselves. Professor Partha Kar is National Specialty Advisor, Diabetes with NHS England and co-lead of Diabetes GIRFT with NHS Improvement. Therefore he is better qualified that you to comment on diabetes!

[Manhattan1]

so type 2 diabetics on diet control only wouldn’t suffer hypoglycaemia Michael?.. when i was in hospital 3 weeks ago my blood sugar was 14.. my diabetes nurse told me when i was diagnosed that i didn’t have ro self test

[MichaelJH Heart Star in reply to Manhattan1]

Ketoacidosis develops when there is elevated BG and too little insulin. It occurs rarely in Type IIs on diet alone or diet plus Metformin. The same group rarely suffer hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar) although it can occur if someone skips breakfast and expends a lot of energy. Hypoglycaemia can occur with some of the newer treatments for Type II.

I always suggest Type IIs test their BG, at lease occasionally, to ensure they achieve a reasnoble Hba1c by good control and not a BG that bounces around between extremes.

[Milkfairy Heart Star]

Michael thank you for posting.

I think I'll go with the advice from the NHS advisor on Diabetes and GIRFT Prof Partha Kar who is the furthest from fake news as possible

[MichaelJH Heart Star]

I agree! The problem is with infection BG can rise rapidly even if the person is still taking their insulin. Covid-19 lowers the point at which ketoacidosis develops which is the reason I highlighted the issue.

[Hidden]

what dose one do when the doc or who ever dose not want to know

[MichaelJH Heart Star in reply to Hidden]

Hi, can you explain the issue you are having?

[Heythrop51]

Although pre-diabetic this is really interesting.

[Heythrop51]

Reported;

[gilreid1]

Good old Dr Google. Keep calm and stay safe

[MichaelJH Heart Star in reply to gilreid1]

This wasn't Doc Google but information from one of the country's leading diabetes experts!

[gilreid1]

Think you miss my point and you say that ONE expert says. Well if we all go by one expert then the A and E will be back the way it was. Overrunning with panic. I don’t have diabetes and would never claim to know anything about it but I am sure there will be a forum for people with diabetes and like our Heart ❤️ forum normally full of good advice.

[MichaelJH Heart Star in reply to gilreid1]

Maybe if you had experienced ketoacidosis you would bit be so dismissive. It was also on the radio:

bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000htx2

[gilreid1 in reply to MichaelJH]

Not being dismissive. I already stated don’t have any blood disorder. Only a reconditioned heart. That why I joined a BHF forum

You really need to lighten up 🤷‍♂️

[Heythrop51 in reply to gilreid1]

Are you equally dismissive of the scientists and doctors assisting the government?

[gilreid1 in reply to Heythrop51]

? About what

[Heythrop51 in reply to gilreid1]

You are dismissive of Professor Partha Kar which suggests you have a problem with experts in their field!

[gilreid1 in reply to Heythrop51]

I never dismissed anyone.

[gilreid1 in reply to Heythrop51]

You need to know about a subject to dismiss. I clearly stated I don’t and still can’t work out way this is being discussed on a heart ❤️ forum. Or am I missing something

[Heythrop51 in reply to gilreid1]

I was diagnosed pre-diabetic last year but with help from this forum I no longer am. One of the complications of diabetes is heart disease. Michael is a life long diabetic who also has heart disease. As I see it in this post he is giving helpful advice to those with heart disease and diabetes in relation to CovID. So it is totally relevant!

[gilreid1 in reply to Heythrop51]

🙇 there is no mention of a heart disease in Michael,s post ?

[Heythrop51 in reply to gilreid1]

I have no idea what point you are trying to make! Do you?

This will be my last post in this thread as your contributions are pointless!

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to gilreid1]

Cardiovascular disease includes the heart and the blood vessels

The common theme is the endothelium the inner lining of all the blood vessels.

Diabetes can cause damage to the endothelium

Endothelial dysfunction.

diabetes.co.uk/diabetes-com...

A discussion about Diabetes along with any other factors effecting the function of the endothelium are very relevant

We all need to take care of our endothelium a much under rated ' organ ' of our body.

I am off to sit in the sunshine as sunlight is used by the skin to make nitrates which my body is deficient in due to my severe microvascular endothelial dysfunction

The BHF funds research into the following

Heart and circulatory disorders

Congential heart disease

Rhythm problems

Vascular dementia

Strokes

Diabetes

Heart function problems

Kidney disease

[gilreid1 in reply to Milkfairy]

I am relatively new to this forum. But one thing I am noticing is that certain post by certain people cannot be questioned. A bit sad and regret that I don’t have such professional experience in so many areas.

But the sun is shining and my repaired heart is beating just fine so I will enjoy the rest of the day.

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to gilreid1]

Enjoy the sunshine🌞

[Prada47 in reply to gilreid1]

Hi

Are you sure your repaired Heart Is Fine ?? it has been known to go wrong even after surgery. I tend to be Quarrelsome on Political Matters not Medical. Some people by studying just the one aspect of their problem become experts !!!

Stay Well and Safe

[Hidden in reply to Milkfairy]

So you know in the winter would a weekly sunbed help with producing nitrates. I’m enjoying the sunshine and it helps with my angina no end.

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to Hidden]

It needs to be weighed up against my skin cancer risk....I've had 2 episodes of skin cancer already....I have a lovely scar on my forehead to remind me

The sunlight helps my angina too along with eating beetroot

Evidence based of course😉

[Hidden in reply to Milkfairy]

Yea, I’d sooner eat dog poo than beetroot, so I might try a cheeky sunbed when ‘Winter is coming’

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to Hidden]

Homegrown roasted beetroot with lentils and feta cheese yum.

Each to their own of course 😊

[Lezzers in reply to Milkfairy]

We're growing beetroot for the first time this year.

[Prada47 in reply to Milkfairy]

Uch y Vee ( Welsh )

Stay well and Safe

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to Prada47]

Prada

We are going to have to agree to disagree on the virtues of beetroot

[Prada47 in reply to Milkfairy]

Hi Both of our sons run Ultra Marathons and Ironman and they swear by Beetroot but not for me. Mind you neither are Ultra Marathons and Ironman competitions

Take Care Stay Safe and Well

[Heythrop51 in reply to Milkfairy]

Beetroot and feta make a good starter!

[Lezzers in reply to Hidden]

Will you be bbq-ing that?

[fergusthegreat in reply to Heythrop51]

I see that you are supportive of Michael and his advice but are happy to report still concerned when he expresses an opinion and posts information.

Bit hypocritical of you don't you think

[Heythrop51 in reply to fergusthegreat]

Not in the least! Michael passed on potential life saving information relating to those with diabetes. He also quoted the source - one of the country's leading diabetes consultants.

The first response was from StillConcerned who chose to use terms like "fake news", "people don't need scaring" and "half truths"! That is why I reported him. Many people are worried and scared in the current climate, and do not need phrases like this thrown in!

[Handel]

Many thanks for the valuable info Michael. xx

[Salihyuksel67]

Thanks for the information Michael.