Savvy Senior: What older diabetics should know about the coronavirus | Life

QUESTION: My husband and I are both in our late 60s and have diabetes. We would like to find out if our diabetes increases our risk of getting the coronavirus.

ANSWER: There’s not enough data to show that people with diabetes are more likely to get the coronavirus (COVID-19) than the general population. But the problem for diabetics is, if you do contract the virus, your chance of developing serious complications is much higher. This is especially true if your diabetes isn’t well controlled. Here’s what you should know.

Diabetic risks

Health data is showing that about 25% of people who go to the hospital with severe COVID-19 infections have diabetes. One reason is that high blood sugar weakens the immune system and makes it less able to fight infections. Your risk of severe coronavirus infection is even higher if you also have another condition, such as heart or lung disease.

If you do get COVID-19, the infection could also put you at greater risk for diabetes complications, such as diabetic ketoacidosis, or DKA, which happens when high levels of acids called ketones build up in your blood.

Some people who contract the new coronavirus have a dangerous bodywide response to it, called sepsis. To treat sepsis, doctors need to manage your body’s fluid and electrolyte levels. DKA causes you to lose electrolytes, which can make sepsis harder to control.

How to avoid COVID-19

The best way to avoid getting sick is to stay home as much as you can. If you have to go out, keep at least 6 feet away from other people. And every time you come back from the supermarket, pharmacy or another public place, wash your hands with warm water and soap for at least 20 seconds.

Also wash your hands before you give yourself a finger stick or insulin shot. Clean each site first with soap and water or rubbing alcohol.

To protect you, all the people in your house should wash their hands often, especially before they cook for the family. Don’t share any utensils or other personal items. And if others in your house are sick, they should stay in their own rooms, as far as possible from you.

The CDC also recommends that you stock up on medications and diabetes testing supplies to last for at least a month. The same goes for grocery supplies and other household necessities.

Also know that Medicare is now covering the cost of telehealth visits, so if you have questions for your doctor, you can ask by video chat or phone instead of going into the office.

If you set sick

The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are a dry cough, fever or shortness of breath. If you develop any symptoms that are concerning, call your doctor about getting tested.

If you find that you have contracted COVID-19, the first level of care is to stay home and check your blood sugar more often than usual and check your ketones, too. COVID-19 can reduce your appetite and cause you to eat less, which could affect your levels. You also need more fluids than usual when you’re sick, so keep water close by, and drink it often.

You should also know that many over-the-counter medicines that relieve virus symptoms, such as fever or cough, can affect your blood sugar levels one way or the other. So, before you take anything, check with your doctor.

And be aware that if you start experiencing severe shortness of breath, high levels of ketones or DKA symptoms, such as severe weakness, body aches, vomiting or belly pain, you need to see your doctor or get to an emergency room right away.

Jim Miller is editor of the Savvy Senior. Send your senior questions to Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit www.savvysenior.org.