COVID-19 and risk for people with Diabetes & Diabetic Neuropathy

Posted by pearl3030 @pearl3030, Apr 28, 2020

Does anyone know why diabetes is on the risk list for covid complications? I am wondering if people with neuropathy (a common affliction for those with Diabetes) are also at a higher risk for complications?

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Hello @pearl3030, Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. The Diabetes.org website has some information that I think answers your question.

How COVID-19 Impacts People with Diabetes: https://www.diabetes.org/coronavirus-covid-19/how-coronavirus-impacts-people-with-diabetes

Mayo Clinic News Network also has some informative and helpful articles and videos here if you are looking for additional information:
https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/category/covid-19/

May I ask how you found Mayo Clinic Connect (we are glad you found us!)?

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@johnbishop

Hello @pearl3030, Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. The Diabetes.org website has some information that I think answers your question.

How COVID-19 Impacts People with Diabetes: https://www.diabetes.org/coronavirus-covid-19/how-coronavirus-impacts-people-with-diabetes

Mayo Clinic News Network also has some informative and helpful articles and videos here if you are looking for additional information:
https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/category/covid-19/

May I ask how you found Mayo Clinic Connect (we are glad you found us!)?

Jump to this post

Thanks, @johnbishop I had wondered about this also. The only thing I had seen was that people with diabetes are more apt to have heart conditions which can be problematic if they contract COVID. This article is more explanative.

I do not remember where I read this unfortunately, but I did read somewhere that although people who are on immunosuppressants are more apt to contract COVID, if they have it their outcome is not worse than people not on immunosuppressants.
This is from a small study in Italy:
https://www.hepmag.com/article/immunosuppressants-liver-transplant-recipients-may-increase-covid19-risk
There is still so much to be learned about COVID and much of what is published contradicts other published studies.
JK

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Thinking about diabetes and the corona virus, our basic health is affected by high sugar numbers, so some of us may not heal as fast or well as before the disease. Also, when you consider that diabetes can affect the hearing, the eyes, the mind, and can lead to Alzheimer's, it is no wonder that we can be sensitive to heart conditions and other potential killers as obesity, anxiety, and God knows what else. Then there is the pancreas, our liver, our muscles, our bones, and certainly we can expect complications from a virus. I struggle to keep up my health every day, and with blood sugar numbers close to 100 in the morning, I have less to worry about. My isolation keeps me from worrying about the virus for me, but I pray for others. My blood pressure is lower now.
So I am motivated to keep on my personal program for the best I can do for my body, and my mind. I do not consider myself a sick person, nor do I laugh about my diabetic condition as many of my friends do. My granddaughter keeps telling me my age is just a number. I am vulnerable, but careful. Dorisena

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@dorisena

Thinking about diabetes and the corona virus, our basic health is affected by high sugar numbers, so some of us may not heal as fast or well as before the disease. Also, when you consider that diabetes can affect the hearing, the eyes, the mind, and can lead to Alzheimer's, it is no wonder that we can be sensitive to heart conditions and other potential killers as obesity, anxiety, and God knows what else. Then there is the pancreas, our liver, our muscles, our bones, and certainly we can expect complications from a virus. I struggle to keep up my health every day, and with blood sugar numbers close to 100 in the morning, I have less to worry about. My isolation keeps me from worrying about the virus for me, but I pray for others. My blood pressure is lower now.
So I am motivated to keep on my personal program for the best I can do for my body, and my mind. I do not consider myself a sick person, nor do I laugh about my diabetic condition as many of my friends do. My granddaughter keeps telling me my age is just a number. I am vulnerable, but careful. Dorisena

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Thank you for dorisena. I try to take my numbers very seriously. They range from 95 to 110. I am trying my best to completely social distance myself except to walk. We do need the exercise.

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@johnbishop

Hello @pearl3030, Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. The Diabetes.org website has some information that I think answers your question.

How COVID-19 Impacts People with Diabetes: https://www.diabetes.org/coronavirus-covid-19/how-coronavirus-impacts-people-with-diabetes

Mayo Clinic News Network also has some informative and helpful articles and videos here if you are looking for additional information:
https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/category/covid-19/

May I ask how you found Mayo Clinic Connect (we are glad you found us!)?

Jump to this post

That is helpful thank you. I found by searching online google for trying to understand more about what the stages of covid are for different types of patients as I have seen a lot in terms of the symptoms but not much has been in the media on what specifically happens to patients once they’ve been hospitalized aside from needing to go on ventilators. Yet recently saw something about blood clots, amputations, covid toes and that made me wonder more about how my 10 yo daughter who suffers from neuropathy/ethromyalgia would be effected if she contracts covid.

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@dorisena

Thinking about diabetes and the corona virus, our basic health is affected by high sugar numbers, so some of us may not heal as fast or well as before the disease. Also, when you consider that diabetes can affect the hearing, the eyes, the mind, and can lead to Alzheimer's, it is no wonder that we can be sensitive to heart conditions and other potential killers as obesity, anxiety, and God knows what else. Then there is the pancreas, our liver, our muscles, our bones, and certainly we can expect complications from a virus. I struggle to keep up my health every day, and with blood sugar numbers close to 100 in the morning, I have less to worry about. My isolation keeps me from worrying about the virus for me, but I pray for others. My blood pressure is lower now.
So I am motivated to keep on my personal program for the best I can do for my body, and my mind. I do not consider myself a sick person, nor do I laugh about my diabetic condition as many of my friends do. My granddaughter keeps telling me my age is just a number. I am vulnerable, but careful. Dorisena

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I’m sorry to hear that. Stay strong and thank you for sharing.

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@contentandwell

Thanks, @johnbishop I had wondered about this also. The only thing I had seen was that people with diabetes are more apt to have heart conditions which can be problematic if they contract COVID. This article is more explanative.

I do not remember where I read this unfortunately, but I did read somewhere that although people who are on immunosuppressants are more apt to contract COVID, if they have it their outcome is not worse than people not on immunosuppressants.
This is from a small study in Italy:
https://www.hepmag.com/article/immunosuppressants-liver-transplant-recipients-may-increase-covid19-risk
There is still so much to be learned about COVID and much of what is published contradicts other published studies.
JK

Jump to this post

Interesting piece. Ty!

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I have a 42-year-old daughter with Type1 (since age 9). I worry constantly about her, even if she gets a cold ... but COVID?!? She’s on a continuous glucose monitor, and well controlled. She has 2 healthy children. She and her husband are ER nurses. She is home with the kids but he is still in the hospital setting. Careful as they are, nothing is foolproof. Anyone out there with Type 1? Sure could use a larger support system these days if only to handle my own anxiety! Thank you!

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Hi @annedodrill44 We have a few active members that are living with Type 1 Diabetes. I have tagged them here. @bassman48, @cehunt57 and @2011panc Perhaps together you can share information you have come across and lend support.

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