โรคเบาหวานกับโรคอ้วนต้องรู้ทัน หากติด COVID-19 มักรุนแรงกว่า

<p>For the general population in Thailand, most diabetic patients often have obesity and other complications as well. Therefore, they are a group that must be strictly careful in managing their health and take medications as prescribed by their doctors. In the case of COVID-19 infection, the severity is usually greater than in the general population. Thus, being aware of the risks and properly taking care of oneself is always important to keep in mind.</p>
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<h2><span style="color: #00826a;">The more comorbidities, the higher the risk of side effects<strong><br />
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<p>Although there is currently no conclusive data that diabetic and obese patients have a higher chance of contracting COVID-19 than the general population, in obese patients or diabetic patients who cannot control their blood sugar levels to normal, and especially if there are other comorbidities, COVID-19 infection is more dangerous because&#8230;</p>
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<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #00826a;"><strong>“The more comorbidities there are, the greater the chance of side effects from COVID-19 infection.”</strong></span></p>
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<p>For example, diabetic patients who cannot control their blood sugar levels often have other comorbidities such as hypertension, obesity, or complications from diabetes such as chronic kidney disease or heart disease. These patients, when infected, have a higher chance of severe symptoms and side effects from COVID-19 than the general population.</p>
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<h2><span style="color: #00826a;">Diabetes and COVID-19 Virus<strong><br />
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<p>Diabetic patients who poorly control their blood sugar have a higher chance of side effects from COVID-19 infection than the general population because higher than normal blood sugar levels reduce the immune system&#8217;s function, making it harder for the body to fight the virus. The virus can grow and spread more easily.</p>
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<p>Additionally, diabetic patients with poor blood sugar control often have comorbidities or complications from diabetes, which increase the likelihood of severe symptoms and more frequent side effects when infected with COVID-19.</p>
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<p>The inflammatory response from viral infection worsens diabetes control. When diabetic patients contract COVID-19, the body reacts against the virus and inflammation occurs. This inflammatory response raises blood sugar levels further, affecting the immune system and the aforementioned diabetes-related complications. <span style="color: #00826a;">The severity of the disease in diabetic patients infected with COVID-19 depends on age, blood sugar levels, comorbidities, or diabetes complications, not on whether the patient has type 1 or type 2 diabetes.</span> Therefore, diabetic patients must maintain good blood sugar control, which is mostly influenced by dietary habits that are inappropriate or unhygienic relative to the body&#8217;s needs. Patients can consult directly with nutritionists and should exercise regularly in a manner suitable for them.</p>
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<h2><span style="color: #00826a;">Obesity and COVID-19 Virus<strong><br />
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<p>Obese patients often have comorbidities or complications related to obesity, which increase the chance of side effects from COVID-19 infection compared to the general population, similar to diabetes. Moreover, people with obesity, especially those with a high Body Mass Index (BMI), may have limited lung expansion, increasing the risk when infected with a respiratory virus. Furthermore, when obese patients become severely ill and require intensive care unit (ICU) admission, there may be difficulties with intubation, finding beds that support higher weight, or performing CT scans that may be limited by patient size and weight, which are obstacles to treatment.</p>
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<p>Ultimately, obese patients should seriously take care of their health by losing weight through exercise, eating appropriate foods, avoiding high-fat foods, getting enough rest, abstaining from alcohol, and quitting smoking.</p>
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<h2><span style="color: #00826a;">How to Take Care of Diabetic and Obese Patients to Stay Away from COVID-19<strong><br />
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<p>For diabetic and obese patients, COVID-19 infection usually results in more severe outcomes than in the general population. Therefore, they should seriously take care of their health as follows:</p>
<ul>
<li>Control blood sugar levels to remain within normal range</li>
<li>Exercise regularly</li>
<li>Eat appropriate and hygienic food</li>
<li>Wash hands frequently or clean hands with alcohol gel</li>
<li>Do not share spoons, forks, or drinking glasses with others</li>
<li>Wear a face mask every time when going outside</li>
<li>Maintain social distancing</li>
<li>Most importantly, according to government policy, vaccination is recommended for high-risk groups with 7 chronic diseases, including diabetes and obesity, who are prioritized for urgent COVID-19 vaccination. Patients with these conditions should consider getting vaccinated. If unsure or concerned, they can consult their doctors, who are ready to answer all questions.</li>
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<h2><span style="color: #00826a;">Additional Care for Diabetic Patients</span></h2>
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<li><span style="color: #00826a;"><strong>Keep blood sugar within normal range</strong></span> Diabetic patients have a higher chance of side effects after COVID-19 infection than the general population if diabetes is poorly controlled. Therefore, blood sugar should be kept within normal limits by regularly checking fingertip blood sugar as recommended by doctors.</li>
<li><span style="color: #00826a;"><strong>Take care of physical and mental health</strong></span> Diabetic patients should exercise regularly, get enough sleep, eat nutritious and hygienic food, and reduce stress. Good physical and mental health helps prevent viral infections.</li>
<li><span style="color: #00826a;"><strong>Drink enough water daily</strong></span> Especially during hot weather, because dehydration in diabetic patients can raise blood sugar levels.</li>
<li><span style="color: #00826a;"><strong>Prepare enough carbohydrate foods (starches and sugars) at home</strong></span> In case of hypoglycemia, blood sugar levels can be corrected immediately.</li>
<li><span style="color: #00826a;"><strong>Prepare enough regular medications at home</strong></span> Especially if quarantine at home for 2-3 weeks is necessary.</li>
<li><span style="color: #00826a;"><strong>Record important phone numbers</strong></span> Including the hospital where treatment is received and the treating doctor&#8217;s phone number, so help can be contacted immediately in emergencies. Close contacts should also keep these numbers.</li>
<li><span style="color: #00826a;"><strong>Regularly monitor your symptoms</strong></span> If respiratory infection symptoms occur such as fever, shortness of breath, cough, runny nose, or sore throat, consult a doctor immediately. Also, if symptoms related to abnormal blood sugar levels occur such as dizziness, palpitations, hand tremors, confusion, excessive sweating, nausea, vomiting, decreased consciousness, or if home blood sugar measurements show low or high levels, consult a doctor as soon as possible.</li>
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<p style="text-align: right;"><span style="color: #00826a;"><strong>Dr. Sunee Jia</strong></span><br />
Endocrinology and Metabolism Specialist<br />
Diabetes and Endocrinology Center, Phyathai 1 Hospital</p>


Obese patients or diabetic patients who cannot control their blood sugar levels within the normal range, especially if they have other underlying diseases, are at an increased risk of severe illness if infected with the COVID-19 virus.

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Diabetes and Obesity: What You Need to Know If Infected with COVID-19, It Is Often More Severe

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