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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dorisena | @dorisena | May 7, 2020

It helps to pay more attention to the psychology of why we eat or don't eat as well. I don't have unhealthy things in the house because someone else buys my groceries now, and because my son is working in isolation in my basement office, and I wouldn't want him to find out I was eating poorly when we both are working on our diabetic issues. So the psychology works for now. I stay the course and don't think about my food obsessions. Maybe later, I say to myself.
Then I am proud of myself for being disciplined enough to avoid the high carb food. I can stretch out that attitude for quite a while before succumbing to a high carb treat. Then the next day I am back on the correct eating to control diabetes. Recently I have been telling myself I am not really a diabetic if my numbers stay close to 100. I am anxiously looking forward to my next AIC test to see if I have really improved. I won't celebrate by eating too much. I will brag to everyone who will listen and see if I can get some supporting praise. It is good psychology, I have read. I am grateful for two granddaughters who think I am doing amazingly well. I will do anything to stay out of a nursing home. Been there three times for surgery recovery. Never want to do it again.
Dorisena

wisco50 | @wisco50 | May 7, 2020

In reply to @jimhd "@dorisena I'm 15 years behind you, and I hope to be doing as well as you..." + (show)

@jimhd

@dorisena I'm 15 years behind you, and I hope to be doing as well as you when I'm 84. It's funny. I used to think 80 was ancient, but the closer I get, the more my definition of ancient keeps moving.

Spring through the fall I get quite a lot of exercise. We have ten acres, with most of it in pasture which our neighbors are using for their horses and cows. I have a lot of flower beds, a big 50'x50' fenced garden full of perennials with spaces left for vegetables. I've been cutting asparagus for a couple of weeks, onions are coming up, potatoes planted, and I bought seeds for beans, acorn squash, pattipan squash, crookneck squash and gourds. I'm still trying to find delicata squash seeds, and cucumber seeds are on the way from Gurneys, along with strawberries and more asparagus. I've always thought a greenhouse would be a good thing to have. We at least have a cellar where I have grow lights for plants to overwinter and keep peppers and tomato plants until it's time to set them out.

I agree with you how good it is to have our hands in the dirt, even if it's just to pull weeds. It's a deferred gratification planting things - the ultimate pleasure is enjoying the produce and flowers. Anticipation!

My father had diabetes but was in denial for a long time and kept on eating the way he always had. I heard him say that he'd go ahead and eat the pie a la mode, and take an insulin shot afterward.

I know that the PT gave me a bunch of stretches to do, but I don't like doing them, and now that it's yard work season, I get a lot of stretching and bending and more walking than my feet want. Today I'm putting a new belt on my riding mower and hoping that that is what is needed to get the mower going.

A healthy body can be part of having a healthy mind. I commend you for maintaining a good balance in your life. And not just physical balance.

After eating fresh vegetables from the garden to the table during the summer and fall, along with supplementing at the farmers market, commercial produce is rarely as good as what we raise ourselves. I bid you well in growing, harvesting and eating from your own garden for many more years.

Jim

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Jung’s catalog, perhaps?

JK | @contentandwell | May 7, 2020

In reply to @dorisena "It helps to pay more attention to the psychology of why we eat or don't eat..." + (show)

@dorisena Your approach is really admirable, and I am going to try to mimic some of it!
My son too is part of my inspiration but recently I have been so bad. I have kept up with my exercise as much as I can without going to my club. We both have Apple watches and "share" so he sees how much I do.
My son is a mesomorph, a real fitness and healthy eating fanatic, so he is very happy when I am doing well. My daughter is the opposite, she was proud of how well I did when I was working!
I really am trying though. I made some fairly healthy (and delicious) muffins today, primarily for my husband, but I had one too. I probably should have resisted.
JK

JK | @contentandwell | May 9, 2020

In reply to @drboat "I read that I am at risk for Corona if I have Diabetes. If me Diabetes..." + (show)

@drboat Good question, one I would like to see answered myself. I figure that they won't look at how well controlled my diabetes is, they will just label me as being diabetic despite my numbers being stellar. When the crisis has diminished somewhat hopefully that will be less true.
JK

dorisena | @dorisena | May 9, 2020

In reply to @drboat "I read that I am at risk for Corona if I have Diabetes. If me Diabetes..." + (show)

I think what they are referring to is your immunity system, and how well you can heal. I read that diabetics, not well controlled, heal more slowly, so that would be a risk factor. Also, your blood tests show that you may be deficient in nutrients, such as vitamin D, and that is a factor. You are not considered a sick person as such, but may be a person who picks up communicable diseases more easily. If I have a cut which could get infected, and it heals as fast as it ever did in my youth, I consider myself pretty healthy, since I eat such a good diet for me. I have a lifetime of allergies, and that concerns me because the allergies affect my sinuses and my breathing, which the virus does as well. If I lived next door, I wouldn't be afraid to come over. Our underlying conditions are not easy to diagnose, but my son was told to work on his immunity system after his radiation treatments, because radiation kills good cells as well as bad cells.
We "vulnerable" people need to be careful of contagious health risks, especially if we are older. The health world wants us off their lists of people to worry about and care for. I stay home because it gives my children less worry. Dorisena

drboat | @drboat | May 9, 2020

I read that I am at risk for Corona if I have Diabetes. If me Diabetes is controlled, Blood Sugar level is less than 127, am I still considered to have the underlining condition and be at risk?

Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | May 9, 2020

In reply to @drboat "I read that I am at risk for Corona if I have Diabetes. If me Diabetes..." + (show)

@drboat, you'll notice that I moved your message to this discussion about COVID-19 and risk for people with Diabetes.

You ask a very good question: "Am I still at risk for the coronavirus if my diabetes is well controlled."
The American Diabetes Association has a good FAQ page that helps answer your question.
- How COVID-19 Impacts People with Diabetes https://www.diabetes.org/coronavirus-covid-19/how-coronavirus-impacts-people-with-diabetes

In this excerpt, the article says:
"People with diabetes are not more likely to get COVID-19 than the general population. The problem people with diabetes face is primarily a problem of worse outcomes, not greater chance of contracting the virus. ... Your risk of getting very sick from COVID-19 is likely to be lower if your diabetes is well-managed. ..."

So, in short practise physical and social distancing and good hand hygiene and all precautions to avoid getting the virus. And continue to manage your diabetes. These are things in your control.

@drboat, are you finding it a challenge to manage your diabetes given the lockdown restrictions? Are you getting enough exercise?

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