Facing diabetes and COVID-19 together
Vaccines against COVID effectively lower rates of infection, transmission, hospitalization, and death. However, for some people, following infection, symptoms may continue beyond the acute phase. If...
Despite vaccinations against the virus that causes COVID, many people still get“breakthrough” COVID, some with serious consequences including hospitalization. Those at-risk after vaccination tend to...
COVID illnesses range from very mild to severe, including illness resulting in death. While COVID illness may be mild, serious illness can happen and may cause other medical conditions to become...
COVID-19 is the infection caused by a virus called coronavirus. This new virus was unknown before the outbreak began in China, in December 2019.
At the moment, we do not know if there are differences between type 1 and type 2 diabetes as they relate to COVID-19.
Evidence suggests that if you have diabetes, compared to people without diabetes, you have:
Therefore, if you have diabetes, it is important to try to prevent COVID-19 infection from occurring. Good control of diabetes makes sense.
For most people, COVID-19 infection is mild, especially for children and young adults, and most people recover completely without needing special treatment. However, COVID-19 can cause serious illness in some people including family or friends. It is therefore quite normal for you to worry about how the COVID-19 outbreak will affect us and our loved ones.
People can catch COVID-19 from others who have the virus. It is spread when a person with COVID-19 coughs, releasing droplets containing the virus into the air (these droplets can travel up to 6 feet) which land on surfaces (door handles, phones, food, anything). If you touch these surfaces and then touch your eyes, nose, or mouth, the infection enters their body. Your risk of COVID-19 increases if there are people near you who are sick. Some people with the virus may have no symptoms so it is important for all of us to wash our hands and stay over 6 feet away from others when possible.
These symptoms are usually mild and begin gradually. Some people get the infection without feeling sick and without these symptoms. Additionally, people with diabetes may see their glucose levels rise during illness even if they are not eating.
However for a small number of people COVID-19 can become serious, with difficulty breathing, pain in the chest, confusion, or bluish lips or face. If these or other worrying symptoms occur, seek medical attention as soon as possible.
At the moment, we think the time between catching the virus and when symptoms start (called the “incubation period”) is between 1 and 14 days, most commonly around 5 days.
COVID-19/Coronavirus is a new and serious threat to everyone, including but especially Hispanic/Latino people with diabetes if their blood sugars are high.
Fortunately, all of us can take simple steps to reduce our risk of catching COVID-19 and, if someone with diabetes develops COVID-19, there are important, practical steps to take immediately.
199,439,503
Global Cases Confirmed
4,246,122 Deaths
35,831,850
United States Cases Confirmed
629,570 Deaths
3,965,385
California Cases Confirmed
64,423 Deaths
35,741
Santa Barbara County Cases
462 Deaths
Sansum Diabetes Research Institute specializes in diabetes. While we are not experts in infectious disease, we are following and conveying on this site the research evidence and advice from the following authoritative organizations:
World Health Organization
Centers for Disease Control
American Diabetes Association
Table:
Case Counts:
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