Living and Coping With Diabetes

Long-Term COVID-19 Effects Associated With Diabetes

One year later, and we still don’t know nearly enough about the long-term effects of COVID-19 or why they affect some patients more than others. What we do know is that many people will experience permanent or long-term heart and lung damage after developing — and recovering from — the disease. Some patients even experience a second bout of symptoms post-recovery. Now, studies seem to suggest a link between long-term symptoms of COVID-19 and diabetes.

At least 14 percent of COVID-19 hospitalizations coincide with diabetes. 

Dr. Yogish Kudva said, “So when the immune system is not working as well and tends to work against the insulin-making cells, even when the sugar is normal, you can diagnose this with certain tests, such as antibody tests. And if in such individuals there is an illness, that can worsen the sugar in these people. So that could be an explanation for why Type 1 diabetes might be diagnosed after COVID-19 — that these are individuals who were already predisposed.”

These findings don’t prove a connection between COVID-19 and the onset of new diabetes. It’s possible the disease might expedite the development of prediabetes or diabetes, or even that a new sedentary lifestyle due to social distancing and/or quarantine could have had the same result. 

Kudva added, “This individual is predisposed to abnormal glucose characteristics, abnormal glucose regulation, and then severe COVID happens. That’s going to accelerate the progression from this state toward a more uncontrolled state.”

For now, it’s more important to recognize that having diabetes puts a patient at increased risk of developing severe complications from COVID-19. Those who have diabetes should be vigilant about following CDC guidelines, including using masks to complement social distancing and reduce the risk of catching the coronavirus. 

Diabetics should also use this time to improve diet, exercise, and reduce stress as much as is possible under the circumstances.

Is Diabetes Associated With Back Pain?

Manuela L. Ferreira conducted a new study at the University of Sydney on types of pain experienced by those who have diabetes. The study did not distinguish between those who have Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes. Many studies have already shown a direct link between different types of chronic pain and diabetes (among other impairments and serious conditions), but Ferreira attempted to maintain a focus on different types of pain by aggregating data from many other studies while conducting her own.

Data was pulled from at least 11 other scientific studies using diabetes patients over the age of 18. The study found a potential link between back pain and diabetes, but noted that some patients also suffered from obesity — which also increases the risk of back pain. 

Ferreira admitted that further research must be done to locate the exact cause of the pain, but suggested future studies look into medications. In particular, insulin can alter blood flow and lead to changes in muscle mass. These changes could lead to back pain.

Diabetes itself results in increased stress, which cycles around to manifest in more symptoms of diabetes, and then even more stress. Those suffering from chronic pain are advised to seek back pain treatment and consult with a diabetes educator to determine the best treatment plan.

There are a number of ways you might alleviate or reduce these symptoms:

Professional trainer Laurel Dierking wrote: “Sedentary lifestyles, poor posture, previous untreated injuries and anatomically misaligned chairs at work, home or in the car can all be contributors to chronic compression of the spine, which invites chronic pain into our lives.”

We recommend frequent stretching. Take care to stand and stretch after long periods of sitting. When work prevents standing, try to increase your range of motion or stretch in position. Keeping physically active will not only alleviate symptoms of diabetes, but it will also help keep your heart and brain healthy!

It’s also important to take steps to reduce stress, which can manifest with chronic pain or other physical symptoms. This can involve breathing exercises, activity, meditation, or even therapy! 

Many diabetics also have little control over the disease — which increases the chance of stress and other symptoms. Make education a priority. Maintain a healthy diet and sufficient exercise to coordinate better outcomes. With better control, a patient will have lower blood pressure, less neuropathy, and better glucose control.

Look for less damaging vices. Don’t drink or smoke. Both can result in chronic pain. 

Distraction can also help patients manage symptoms. That might mean simple entertainment for some people, but we recommend going outside, running errands, or meeting with friends to keep you active and distracted for maximum effect.

When nothing else works, try the opposite: focus on what hurts! Toni Bernhard wrote in Psychology Today: “Focus on the sensations that make up the pain. Is there burning? Is there throbbing? Is there tingling? Does the pain get more intense and then less intense? This separating out of the sensations is called ‘sensory splitting.’ What you’ve been thinking of as a permanent solid block of pain is really many different constantly changing sensations.”

What Affects Your Blood Sugar Level?

It’s important to find a diabetic educator when you have diabetes because most people will fail to control the disease without one. Checking blood sugar, exercising, and eating right are all ways of life for a person diagnosed with diabetes. And knowing your blood sugar allows you to determine how much of those things you should be doing and adjust your current regimen to be more efficient — making you healthier in the long-term.

But there are a number of factors that affect diabetes — and you might not even know about some of them!

For example, when you’re sick. An illness could cause your body to flood with hormones that increase your blood sugar. That means you can eat right and still have a problem. The exact same thing can occur if you’re stressed. Death in the family? Divorce? New child? You might expect some variations in blood sugar that have nothing to do with your overall health. But because failing to maintain diabetes can be stressful all by itself, this can create a cyclical effect that’s hard to overcome. 

You want to do your best to avoid these hormones flooding your body, and part of that equation is getting enough sleep every night — because sleep helps regulate and maintain proper hormone levels throughout your body. Not getting enough sleep? Your blood sugar might go up. When you wake up, you might consider avoiding the cup of java — because some individuals experience high blood sugar soon after consuming caffeine. 

The “dawn phenomenon” means that your blood sugar is higher than expected even after a night time of fasting. This is because your body doesn’t release the insulin it needs while you’re sleeping. If you experience the dawn phenomenon, consult your doctor!

When taking insulin, these three factors play a key role in its effectiveness: timing, dosing, and expiration date. Insulin not working as expected? Ask your doctor why.

Promoting Oral Hygiene During Coronavirus Pandemic

Diabetes and other underlying conditions like heart disease increase the risk of serious health complications from COVID-19. We’ve known this from the beginning. Those who have underlying health conditions but recover still run the risk of serious long-term complications like damaged lungs. Unfortunately, poor dental hygiene can exacerbate diabetes — making it even more dangerous to become infected with coronavirus. How is oral hygiene related to overall health?

The foods we consume are normally converted into sugar — and energy, subsequently — but diabetes usually eliminates or reduces the body’s ability to perform this operation. High blood sugar can result in a variety of health problems, including nerve and organ damage. It can also lead to tooth decay. Did you know that one in five cases of tooth extraction are due to uncontrolled diabetes?

If you have diabetes, you should be sure to maintain an acute awareness of common symptoms of oral diseases. You might notice that the flavor or taste of foods changes over time. Notice a lingering bad taste? Check with your dentist. Another oral health problem that becomes more common with diabetes is “thrush,” or a yeast infection in the mouth. It often presents on the tongue and cheeks as painful, blotchy white and red sores. Dry mouth and gum disease are also associated with diabetes. 

What can you do to promote better oral health at home? Brush at least twice a day or after meals. Floss at least once a day or after meals. Be careful not to use mouthwash unless your dentist has prescribed it to reduce or eliminate symptoms of an underlying oral health problem — as using mouthwash too regularly can lead to one! Speaking of the dentist, you should try to visit for a routine oral examination at least once every six months. If your teeth are bothering you, schedule a visit before your routine checkup!

Failure to conduct routine oral hygiene can also result in a nasty cycle of health problems, wherein leaving one unchecked either causes or worsens another. That’s because poor oral hygiene can cause additional health problems associated with diabetes. Many of these are autoimmune disorders. Good nutrition, exercise, and proper hygiene must be maintained to reduce the risk of these issues — especially if you have diabetes.

These health problems include arthritis, Alzheimer’s, diabetes, heart disease, hepatitis C, HIV and AIDS, and osteoporosis. Coincidentally, many of these health problems are included on the long list of underlying conditions that make COVID-19 more deadly. Be careful! If you suspect you could have any of these health problems, speak with a doctor immediately. 

Additionally, certain medications can affect your ability to provide yourself with proper oral hygiene. Medications like decongestants, painkillers, diuretics, antidepressants, and antihistamines are all associated with dry mouth — and that can make it easier for bad bacteria to invade your mouth, causing a horrible cascade of other terrifying health conditions that could increase the adverse effects of diabetes and reduce lifespan substantially.

Everything We Know About The Relationship Between COVID-19 And Diabetes

From the beginning of the coronavirus crisis, researchers and scientists have been certain that the resulting disease, COVID-19, could be far more dangerous to patients with underlying conditions like heart disease or diabetes. The relationship between COVID-19 and diabetes is becoming clearer with each passing day — and what we now know is cause for concern. It appears that COVID-19 might actually cause diabetes.

Diabetics who have Type-1 diabetes have trouble creating insulin because an immune response terminates the cells responsible for making it. This process usually occurs in the pancreas. That’s why some people have to inject insulin themselves. 

Monash University Metabolic disease specialist Paul Zimmet said, “Diabetes is dynamite if you get COVID-19.” But there’s a reason why: “Diabetes itself is a pandemic just like the COVID-19 pandemic. The two pandemics could be clashing.”

Zimmet believes COVID-19 actually might be a diabetes trigger, causing the condition in otherwise healthy individuals.

It wouldn’t be a huge shock if this were the case.

That’s because Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) is already considered a risk factor for diabetes (and could be considered a cousin of coronavirus). The same organs that help maintain your blood sugar use ACE2, a protein that SARS-CoV-2 (the strain of coronavirus responsible for this pandemic) to override cells. A new study suggests that this relationship could prove disastrous.

Zimmet said, “In science, sometimes you have to start off with very small evidence to chase a hypothesis.”

Not everyone agrees.

University of Glasgow metabolic-disease researcher Naveed Sattar said, “We need to keep an eye on diabetes rates in those with prior COVID-19, and determine if rates go up and over expected levels.”

In other words, it’s too early to be making conclusions — and we need to keep an eye on what matters here and now, which is reducing the rate of infection for coronavirus while we protect those most at risk (including those who have diabetes already).

Am I At Greater Risk From The Coronavirus Because I Have Diabetes?

It’s a risky day and age we’re living in right now — risky for all of us, not just those who are living with underlying conditions that could make us more susceptible to the disease caused by the coronavirus. The disease is called COVID-19. Symptoms might include shortness of breath, fever, cough, and runny nose. While there is much we don’t know about how the coronavirus attacks its host, we do know that COVID-19 is far more dangerous if you’re older or have an underlying condition.

Is one of those underlying conditions diabetes?

The obvious answer seems like “yes,” but the truth is that we don’t have enough data to be sure. It’s helpful to remember that the coronavirus is extremely new. We believe that people living with diabetes aren’t necessarily more likely to contract the virus than anyone else, but that outcomes are less likely to be positive. Still, it seems like older people living with diabetes are at far greater risk than the young.

According to the American Diabetes Association FAQ: “People with diabetes do face a higher chance of experiencing serious complications from COVID-19. In general, people with diabetes are more likely to experience severe symptoms and complications when infected with [any] virus. If diabetes is well-managed, the risk of getting severely sick from COVID-19 is about the same as the general population.”

Do you have COVID-19 symptoms already? The ADA recommends that you: “Have your glucose reading available, have your ketone reading available, keep track of your fluid consumptions (you can use a 1-liter water bottle) and report, be clear on your symptoms (for example: are you nauseated? Just a stuffy nose?), [and] ask your questions on how to manage your diabetes.”

The bottom line is this: there has never been a better time to keep your diabetes under control. Although you should be staying indoors as much as possible and avoiding people in general, you need to be getting the appropriate amount of exercise. Vitamin D never hurt anybody! Don’t go outside with a group, but feel free to take a walk around the block or find an out-of-the-way hike to enjoy.

Manage your meals as best you can. Frozen fruits and veggies are just as good as fresh, and you need them right now. Don’t skimp on nutritional content or allow yourself to become lazy during this time of crisis. 

The second you feel sick, make that call!

Scientists Accidentally Cure Diabetes In Mice As Popular Drug Pulled From Market

Anyone living with diabetes will tell you that the struggle is a roller coaster ride. That was increasingly apparent this past week as we got news from one end of the spectrum and then veered all the way to the other end — both good and bad. The bad news is that a popular diabetes drug called metformin might be pulled from the market over potentially high levels of a carcinogenic ingredient. 

The good news is that laboratory mice were accidentally functionally cured of the disease — which means humans might be next.

Testing performed by trusted online pharmacy Valisure found NDMA in at least 16 different batches of the drug metformin, which is one of the most commonly prescribed diabetes drugs on the market. This quickly resulted in a petition to recall the drug until more tests can be done to find out whether or not the NDMA is the result of large scale contamination or just somehow a base ingredient of the drug.

Scientists have discovered a way to convert stem cells into something called a “beta cell” in order to secrete the hormone insulin, the lack of which causes diabetes. When the converted beta cells were placed inside diabetic mice, they were quickly cured of the disease.

Lead author of the Washington University study, Jeffrey Millman, said, “These mice had very severe diabetes with blood sugar readings of more than 500 milligrams per deciliter of blood — levels that could be fatal for a person — and when we gave the mice the insulin-secreting cells, within two weeks their blood glucose levels had returned to normal and stayed that way for many months.”

The beta cells relevant to insulin production in the body are normally produced inside a person’s pancreas. That’s why those who have diabetes must inject insulin into the bloodstream when the body runs low. If scientists can reproduce the results of the study within human subjects, it’s possible that we might have a functional cure within years.

Millman said, “The more off-target cells you get, the less therapeutically relevant cells you have. You need about a billion beta cells to cure a person of diabetes. But if a quarter of the cells you make are actually liver cells or other pancreas cells, instead of needing a billion cells, you’ll need 1.25 billion cells. It makes curing the disease 25 percent more difficult.”

That’s why old studies have failed to produce the needed results. The unwanted cells are not made by the converted beta cells, making a cure that much more manageable.

Artificial Intelligence Might Be Part Of The Next Diabetes Treatment Plan

No one wants to be diagnosed with a condition like diabetes. It’s basically a life sentence. It’s not the worst-case scenario, but it certainly puts added pressure on people to exercise more frequently and eat right. Doing either of those things in combination and consistently enough that they make a difference can be a struggle for anyone who isn’t accustomed to the burden. No one wants to prick a finger for the rest of their days, either.

But treatment plans are changing. Might artificial intelligence be the next big driver of diabetes treatment? It works through wearable devices, which are becoming an increasingly popular alternative for diabetics.

Many media reports have suggested that the pace of AI advancement has once again slowed to a crawl, much like it did thirty years ago. But that’s nonsense. The biggest companies we know — like Google, Apple, Microsoft, and even Facebook — are still funneling an insane amount of resources into making the AI better. 

A new system that would help diabetics detect low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) non-invasively is currently under development by a team of researchers who published the results of a new program in Scientific Reports

It’s not perfect yet. Scientists working out of the University of Warwick in the United Kingdom have managed to show an 82 percent success rate. That means that their computer can diagnose hypoglycemia about four out of five times. 

Lead author Leandro Pecchia said, “Our innovation consisted in using [AI] for automatic detecting [of] hypoglycemia via few ECG beats. This is relevant because ECG can be detected in any circumstance, including sleeping.”

Scientists watched healthy participants around the clock for two weeks to see how often they could accurately record glucose readings through their newly created AI program. They did this not by testing blood, but by measuring heart rhythm. 

Diabetes is a growing public health concern, prompting state governments to sign new measures into law that recognize the epidemic. Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker recently signed a new law to place price caps on diabetic medications. Senator Andy Manar, who sponsored the new bill, said it was the “biggest step that we can take under Illinois law.”

But of course more needs to be done, especially when diagnosing those who may be suffering from diabetes. Those who are not covered by health insurance are far less likely to visit the doctor and may not realize they have the condition.

Pritzker said, “Diabetes affects people from all walks of life. It doesn’t discriminate between those who can afford medication at unconscionable cost and those who cannot.”

What Are The Long-Term Adverse Health Effects Of Mismanaged Diabetes?

Diabetes is a dangerous condition under which to live — especially if you aren’t properly caring for yourself. Those who live with diabetes must be careful to eat right and get enough exercise. Even though new medical advancements provide a much better outlook, they don’t mean anything if you can’t manage the symptoms. These are some of the worst long-term adverse health effects of mismanaged diabetes. 

Without proper self-care, diabetics will likely sustain increasingly severe damage to blood vessels (most common in the legs, heart, and brain). Damage to smaller blood vessels is common in feet, kidneys, and eyes. Nerve damage is common. But long-term health effects will damage one system after another. You will notice digestive troubles, skin trouble, performance issues, and a weakened immune system.

Because those with diabetes often have increased cholesterol, it’s important to reduce consumption of meat and dairy products. Those who suffer from diabetes are also subject to increased blood pressure. These issues can lead to cardiovascular disease. Do you have a family history of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, or both? You’re even more at risk.

Diabetics are subject to various eye diseases, including retinopathy, macular oedema, cataracts, and glaucoma. These diseases can result in permanent damage and loss of vision, and sometimes present with few or no symptoms. If you suspect that your vision is impaired due to diabetes complications, seek medical attention immediately!

Diabetics are also subject to kidney disease because of damage to small blood vessels. This is another complication that might present with few or no symptoms at first. 

Severe nerve damage might also occur. This is due to high blood glucose, alcoholism, and vitamin B12 deficiencies, the last of which might result from diabetes medications. Nerve damage often presents in feet, legs, hands, arms, chest, and stomach. Damage to appendages is one of the reasons why diabetics are at risk of infection or amputation.

The feet are especially prone to nerve damage when blood supply is reduced or restricted. More serious complications often arise because the body’s natural healing processes are slowed dramatically while the risk of infection is increased. Those who suffer from diabetes might note numbness or reduced feeling in the feet. Ulcers are common.

The structural purpose of skin is to reduce the probability of infection. Diabetes often results in excessively dry skin — and that means an increased opportunity for infection everywhere. 

Tooth decay and gum infections also result from restricted blood flow.

Because other health issues can result in increased levels of stress, diabetics are more susceptible to mental health problems. Anxiety and depression can also result in fluctuations in glucose levels, making the disease even more dangerous.

Should You Be Wearing A Smartwatch For Your Diabetes?

Technology has come a long way in the last five years — especially wearable devices and what they’re capable of reporting. It’s not just about the “number of daily steps” or monitoring heart rate anymore. And that’s great, because about 9 percent of the world’s population has now been diagnosed as having Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes. We need new ways of diagnosing and managing the condition as it gets worse.

Heart disease and cancer continue to rank as the number one and two threats to our health as we age, but diabetes can lead to heart disease. Technology has always been a big part of understanding how and why diabetes affects us. Anyone growing up with diabetes in the last 30 years knows how to prick their finger with a needle so they can use a little handheld to find out if they have low blood sugar. 

But what if we can be more consistent? What if we can show people what their long-term outlook is instead of just showing them what their day will be like?

That’s what the smartwatch revolution is trying to accomplish.

Insulin users have been wearing continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) devices for a few years now. There’s no longer a need to prick your finger. These devices help those who suffer from diabetes better manage their condition, lowering the risks of serious side effects (like the aforementioned heart disease).

But smartwatches are capable of providing the same information, and much more. Dexcom CTO Jake Leach said, “The smartphone platform really opened up a lot of functionality that is not typical in medical devices.” 

He says that these technologies are really great for parents whose children are suffering from diabetes: “The parent has the safety blanket of knowing how things are going. They can set up alerts and alarms that can communicate if there’s an issue that has to be dealt with, so they don’t have to worry as much.”

The devices can also be used for research purposes. Diabetic patients can opt to have the CGM reading continuously uploaded to servers where the information is then used to make even better gizmos. 

Leach said, “The folks that utilize that technology have better glucose control than those that don’t and we kind of attributed it to the fact that they’ve got others helping them manage their diabetes…Diabetes is such an evolutionary thing and it develops over time and changes. You have to always be looking to change the way of managing it.”