By: Portia Wofford
Physicians, scientists, and researchers are still learning about COVID-19 and its effects on the body. As they study the impact coronavirus has on different illnesses and disease processes, diabetes is getting attention. The CDC notes that having Type 1 or Type 2 Diabetes increases your risk of severe illness from COVID-19. Because people with diabetes are at an increased risk for developing infections, they should take precautions to protect themselves against COVID-19.
Complications from diabetes related to COVID-19
Currently, there isn’t enough research or evidence to prove that diabetics are at an increased risk for COVID-19. However, if your diabetes isn’t well-controlled, you could have worse complications if you contract coronavirus. According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), when diabetics don’t manage their diabetes and blood sugars, they are at risk for diabetes- related complications. Additionally, other conditions —such as heart or lung disease — and diabetes worsens the chance of you getting sick from COVID-19 because your body’s immune system is compromised. A recent study showed patients with COVID-19 and diabetes who had high blood sugars were more likely to have longer hospital stays.
If you do get COVID-19, the virus could put you at higher risk for sepsis and diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). Sepsis is a complication of COVID-19, which causes widespread inflammation throughout your body and can shut down organs. DKA happens when high levels of acid (ketones) are in your blood.
It’s hard to manage your fluid and electrolytes level in DKA.
DKA makes it difficult to maintain your fluid and electrolyte levels.
This makes treating sepsis hard because DKA causes you to lose electrolytes.
In addition to diabetes-related complications, diabetics also have a risk of developing other complications of COVID-19, such as pneumonia, organ failure, and kidney injury.
Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes and Coronavirus
According to the CDC, people at any age with Type 2 diabetes have an increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19. Based on the CDC, the ADA warns that people with Type 1 or gestational diabetes might also be at an increased risk. The ADA states it’s important for any person with either type of diabetes to manage their diabetes. Those who already have diabetes-related health problems are likely to have worse outcomes if they contract COVID-19 than diabetics who are otherwise healthy.
Tips to avoid infection
Stay home as much as possible
Monitor your blood sugar regularly. Maintaining optimal blood glucose, as determined by your healthcare team, is important in preventing severe complications to COVID-19.
Wash your hands
Avoid sick people
Wear a mask
Check-in with your doctors, via telehealth. Most providers schedule telehealth visits—rather than in-person visits. Ask your provider if he or she offers this service.
Exercise. Try exercising at home. Walk around your neighborhood, but be sure to social distance. Right now, there are exercises and workout plans online where you can follow along.
Wash your hands. Wash your hand with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds. Keep alcohol-based hand sanitizer with you as well.
Wear a mask and social distance. CDC recommends at least 6 feet apart.
Eat a healthy diet:
Eat foods low in sugar
Limit foods high in sugar, carbohydrates, and fat
Try lean proteins instead of fried foods
Don’t forget your green, leafy vegetables
If your glucose readings change because of changes in your diet and activity level, speak with your healthcare team before making any adjustments to your insulin or other medications.
Your COVID-19 diabetes plan
Because of social distancing and shelter-in-place rules, it may be harder for you to get your supplies.
Stock up on enough supplies to last you for a couple of weeks, in case you get quarantined:
Healthy food
Simple carbs like honey, fruit juice, or hard candies in case your blood sugar dips
Make sure you have a 30 day supply of insulin and other medicine
Extra strips and batteries for your glucometer
Extra glucagon and ketone strips
Diabetes alert bracelet or necklace
Keep your home health team updated on your plans, and if you notice any COVID-19 symptoms be sure to alert your home health nurse.
What to do if you get sick
Be sure you know the signs and symptoms of COVID-19:
Cough, shortness of breath, or difficulty breathing
New loss of taste or smell
Fever or chills
Vomiting or diarrhea
Muscle or body aches
Notify your Abode Home Health nurse , with your most recent blood glucose readings, if you have any of these symptoms. Symptoms can range from mild to severe illness, and appear 2-14 days after exposure to COVID-19.
Portia Woffordis an award-winning nurse, writer, and digital marketer. After dedicating her nursing career to creating content and solutions for employers that affected patient outcomes, these days Portia empowers health related businesses to grow their communities through engaging content that connects and converts. Follow her on Instagram and Twitter for her latest.For many people, the decision to receive hospice care is made following the diagnosis of a life-limiting illness. Even so, some families still question this decision. Here are some common Hospice qualifiers to help determine when it might be time to elect the hospice benefit.
Falls
Frequent physician, ET and/or Hospital visits
Weight loss and or BMI < 22
Decline aggressive therapy or is not a candidate
Wounds
EF < 20%
NYHA Class IV symptoms at rest
Little or no response to Bronchodilators
Serum < 2.5
Dysphagia and/or aspiration pneumonia
Shortness of breath and/or o2 sat of 88% or less
Frequent injections
Edema
UTIs
Upper respiratory infections, bronchitis or pneumonia
If you or a loved one are experiencing any of these symptoms and have questions about our services at Abode Hospice, please contact our office at (804) 359-3400 to speak with a staff member about these Hospice qualifiers.A Music Therapy Case Study | Joshua Gilbert, MT-BC
Throughout life, song can positively affect us both physically and emotionally. It influences bodily functions that we believe are beyond our control, such as heart rate, blood pressure and release of the body’s natural pain relief chemicals. Music therapy offers significant benefits for patients, caregivers and families. We offer it as part of our hospice services.
In a case study conducted (by Joshua Gilbert) on the impact of music therapy over a four-month period, with an older adult in hospice care, results exhibited significant signs of improvement in the following categories:
Quality of life
Self-esteem
Emotional expression
Breathing patterns
Through involvement in music-based interventions, these improvements allowed the patient to benefit from music therapy during hospice care. The patient often smiled, laughed and made positive comments about the music. After participating in deep breathing exercises and harmonica playing, the patient’s breathing became deeper and less labored. Additionally, the patient developed increased confidence in improvising harmonica music, and more open about expressing her emotions surrounding death.
Despite patient status or level of consciousness, music therapists can console and comfort them through music. Research has shown hearing is the last outside sensation that registers with a dying patient. Let us help your loved one make this experience more soothing.
To read the full case study, please click here.
For many people, the decision to receive hospice care is made following the diagnosis of a life-limiting illness. Even so, some families still question this decision. Here are some common Hospice qualifiers to help determine when it might be time to elect the hospice benefit.