Covid-19 disease and diabetes mellitus: precautions to take during the pandemic |15 April 2021

According to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), Seychelles is one of the 48 countries of the IDF African region. 463 million people have diabetes in the world and more than 19 million people in the AFR region; by 2045 it will be around 47 million. Among the adult population, around 66,700, the prevalence of diabetes in adults turn around 14.2% and the total cases of diabetes in adults is around 9,500.

Being a diabetic myself, I suddenly became more aware of my condition with the outset of the Covid-19 pandemic and I started reading a lot about the on-going pandemic and how we can protect ourselves. Seychelles NATION met Dr John CS from Dr Murthy’s Clinic to know more about the Covid-19 disease and diabetes.

Seychelles NATION: How does Covid-19 affect patients with diabetes mellitus?

Dr John CS: The tremendous impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on healthcare has raised questions on how people with underlying medical conditions cope with emergencies.

Although SARS-CoV-2 virus affects people of all ages, evidence and research suggest that there are two groups that are vulnerable and as such at higher risk of contracting the virus. These two groups are: people 60 years and above, and people with underlying medical conditions like chronic respiratory disease, hypertension, cancer and diabetes mellitus.

Generally, people with diabetes are more likely to have more symptoms and complications when infected with any virus.

According to the American Diabetes Association, people living with diabetes are more likely to have serious complications from Covid-19. Covid-19 can increase inflammation or internal swelling in people with diabetes which can contribute to more severe complications like diabetic ketoacidosis.

When people with diabetes contract Covid-19, it can be harder to treat due to the fact that the virus may thrive in an environment of elevated blood glucose. Moreover, compromised immune system makes it harder to fight the virus leading to a longer recovery period.

Seychelles NATION: What are the precautions people living with diabetes should take?

Dr John CS: In line with the guidelines from the Ministry of Health Seychelles, the following general precautions should be taken by people living with diabetes: ensure to practice regular hand hygiene; ensure to put on face mask in public places and where physical distancing cannot be maintained; maintain physical distancing of more than one metre; avoid gatherings and crowds and avoid sharing objects.

Beyond the above general recommendations, people living with diabetes and anyone in close contact with them should ensure that they:

• Prepare in advance for the possibility of contracting the virus or getting ill
• Keep personal contact details at hand in case of an emergency
• Pay extra attention to their blood glucose control. Regular monitoring can help avoid complications caused by high or low blood sugar
• Consult a healthcare professional if they do show flu-like symptom. If they are coughing and having difficulty breathing, this may indicate an infection so they should seek medical support and treatment immediately
• Make sure that they have access to sufficient supply of water because infections like Covid-19 may raise glucose levels and increase the need for fluids
• Ensure they have good supply of the diabetes medications they may need
• If living alone, ensure a reliable person knows they have diabetes as they may require assistance if they get ill.
• Keep a regular schedule, avoiding overwork and have a good night sleep.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

Seychelles NATION: Can people living with diabetes take the Covid-19 vaccine?

Dr John CS: Research from the World Health Organisation (WHO) shows that Covid-19 vaccines appear to be safe and effective for adults with diabetes. Rigorous clinical trials tested the safety of these vaccines in adults of all ages, races, ethnicities, as well as chronic health conditions. Since people living with diabetes are at higher risk of developing Covid-19 complications, it is important that they are vaccinated against the virus as soon as possible. The Ministry of Health of Seychelles has approved the administration of two Covid-19 vaccines, namely, Sinopharm and Covishield vaccines. In addition, people living with diabetes should be well informed of the possible side effects of vaccines on diabetics.

When a person receives a vaccine for a particular virus, such as Covid-19, the immune system builds protection against it. Because the body is creating antibodies and learning how to fight the virus targeted by the vaccine, certain side effects may be experienced for a day or two. Hence, people living with diabetes may have concerns related to how the Covid-19 vaccine impacts blood sugar levels.

According to the Centre for Disease Control, these are the common side effects of Covid-19 vaccines – they are similar for people with and without diabetes: pain, swelling, or redness in the vaccinated arm, fever, chills, fatigue, headache, nausea, and muscle pain. These side effects are a result of your immune system preparing to combat a future viral infection – they do not mean that you have gotten sick from the vaccine itself.

Because the vaccine can cause symptoms of illness that can lead to high glucose levels, people living with diabetes should carefully monitor their blood sugar levels for 48 hours after they received their vaccination. It is also important that they stay hydrated. So far, people with diabetes seem to be experiencing few side effects and minimal effect on blood sugar levels.

However, if the side effects do not go away, it is advised that people living with diabetes contact their healthcare professionals.

Compiled by Vidya Gappy