5 Covid-19 Symptoms Diabetic Patients Should Not Ignore
The recent Covid-19 pandemic has targeted many lives. Coronavirus seems to disregard people’s affiliations to healthy living and treatment plans, attacking whoever it finds in its direct line of sight. Thus, it has become a primitive need to identify the symptoms of this deadly flu-like disease in its early stages and opt for preventive care as much as possible.
A prevalent reason for the attack by the Coronavirus is existing ailments and weakened immune systems. Hence, if you are a patient with chronic illnesses or health conditions, then you need to take special care in order to identify the symptoms and seek medical aid at the earliest.
Keeping that in mind, today we will address 5 Covid-19 symptoms found in diabetic patients that should not be ignored under any circumstance.
Why Diabetic patients are more likely to be prone to Covid-19?
Diabetes, in itself, is a polygenic syndrome affected by high levels of glucose in the body. Although it seems benign, Diabetes results in several subsequent ailments which tend to weaken the immune system boundlessly.
Some associated ailments that accompany Diabetes are:
- Fluctuating blood pressure
- Heart problems
- Disorders in the kidney
- Loss of sensory organs such as vision and hearing
- Pathology of the peripheral nervous system
- Slow healing of the skin or infections
There is more than one reason for the virus to find a way into your body, which puts diabetics at high risk of contracting Covid-19. These risks are even higher for people who do not manage their diabetic conditions effectively. The body tends to weaken with time as the internal system has to fight several diseases and disorders. Thus when Covid-19 takes a toll, the immune system is unable to cope with the excessive stress.
Since Covid-19 is a relatively new and extremely unpredictable disease, it is difficult to determine if one type-1 and type-2 makes a lot of difference. It is important to maintain a healthy lifestyle if you have diabetes in any case.
5 symptoms of Covid-19 that diabetic patients should address immediately
As we have listed above, there are several disorders associated with diabetes that tend to weaken your immune system. For the most part, these disorders are under control. However, if you notice the following 5 symptoms, it is time to closely observe yourself or your family members for indications of Covid-19:
- Degradation of sufficient oxygen levels
A primary concern among diabetics is chest congestions and difficulty breathing. Unfortunately, this is also a veritable symptom of Covid-19.
Patients have reported experiencing difficulty in breathing and feeling an inordinate lack of sufficient oxygen in their system. You have heard how several patients have been supplied with an external supply of oxygen and put on ventilators to help them breathe freely.
Additionally, the chest CT severity scale is measured when a person is admitted to determine the level of infection.
Thus, if you experience persistent chest congestions and pain, along with difficulty in breathing or oxygen deficit, then you definitely need to test for Covid-19 right away.
- Rashes on the skin, covid nails, and slow healing
Another prominent byproduct of diabetes is slow healing. Due to the degrading immune system, collagen, which adds elasticity and healing to the skin in cases of cuts and bruises, slows down.
However, if you are affected by the coronavirus then not only does the skin heal much slower but you will experience rashes, red skin, hives, and Covid nails on your fingers and toes.
The early appearance of these skin conditions may indicate signs of Covid-19. Diabetics need to pay special attention to these symptoms and seek medical attention immediately to keep the virus from further weakening the immune system. Even if you think it is an allergic reaction, getting tested couldn’t hurt.
- Losing sensory functionalities
Diabetics tend to experience a decline in their sensory functions, more precisely, a loss of hearing or dull vision. Aside from the effects of diabetes itself, these could also be signs of Covid-19.
If you have blurry vision or a rapidly declining sense of hearing then get tested for coronavirus just to be on the safe side.
Additionally, a running nose due to what appears to be a common cold can result in loss of smell. Even though it doesn’t seem harmful, the symptoms of Covid-19 closely mimic those of the flu. Therefore, you should not ignore the symptom and opt to get tested as soon as possible.
- Covid Pneumonia
It is common knowledge now that the coronavirus tends to attack weakened immune systems. This is further aggravated in people suffering from diabetes. When you add pneumonia to the equation with the higher rate of inflammation, chest congestions, respiratory issues, and unrestrained blood sugar levels, the virus finds its way into the body faster.
Due to the lack of sufficient means to differentiate the symptoms of Covid-19, it is best to get tested and not ignore the signs as a common side-effect of pneumonia.
- Black Fungus
Lastly, diabetics tend to experience a lot of swelling, headaches, and skin irritation in general. However, with the second wave of the virus, a newly found component referred to as Black Fungus has gained recognition among Covid-19 patients.
The symptoms of Black Fungus also include massive headaches, inflammations, severe skin irritability, and facial distortion. If you observe these symptoms in yourself or your loved ones, it is time to get checked immediately for Covid-19.
The problem is, the weakening of the immune system due to diabetes makes it difficult for the body to cope with fungal growth much like the coronavirus itself. Together, these two infestations cause severe damage to the body, so do not ignore the signs.
What are the preliminary warning signs of Covid-19 to watch out for?
- Feeling lethargic, fatigue, or the inability to stay awake for long.
- Confounded mind and loss of clarity.
- Experiencing difficulty in breathing or tightened chest.
- Turning blue in the face or just the lips.
- Severe and continuous pressure building in the chest along with pain.
- Chills, coughing, running nose, and phlegm similar to the common flu.
- Nausea or diarrhoea
How to prepare before calling the doctor?
- Check your glucose and ketone levels. If the readings are abnormally fluctuating then call the doctor with the results available.
- Track your fluid intake and expulsion.
- Make a note of all your symptoms regardless of how trivial they may seem.
What are some precautionary measures that diabetics can take?
- Wear a mask at all times when stepping outside the house or if people are visiting.
- Maintain the 6-foot rule when you interact with anyone from outside your household. If the ailment and its subsidiary conditions are too strong, then consider maintaining a safe distance from any member of the household who frequently leaves the house, even if they take precautions.
- Wash your hands often, especially before meals, touching your face, using any invasive products, etc.
- Sanitize the house and keep your immediate environment clean and healthy at all times.
- Follow the instructions of your medical advisor to the letter. Take your medicines and lead a healthy life to reduce your chances of contracting other disorders which make you vulnerable to Covid-19.
What measures to take in case you have symptoms of Covid-19 and need to visit a medical facility?
If you are a diabetic and experiencing symptoms of Covid-19, even if they don’t seem malign, consider carrying your own monitors to check your blood glucose levels. This is to ensure that you do not come in direct contact with any equipment that may have been touched by other ailing patients. Even though hospitals take every measure to sanitize and disinfect the equipment and surroundings, it is best not to tempt fate.
Is it safe to go outside if you are diabetic but asymptomatic of Covid-19?
If you are diabetic, then your chances of being infected by the coronavirus are relatively higher than other individuals. However, staying at home with no source of income certainly isn’t an option during such a severe economic crisis.
Therefore, take preventive measures if you feel the need to leave the house. Also, take your treatment plans, diet, and regular home checkups seriously. Monitor your blood glucose levels and if you have subsequent heart or kidney problems then take special care of yourself.
Many diabetics lead a healthy life in general. If you are one of them, then you can take the precautions listed above, along with carrying sanitizers and maintaining social distances when you step out.
If, however, your diabetes has severe consequences, it is safer to stay indoors and improve your health, maybe wait for the new waves of the pandemic to pass before you leave the house.
Conclusion
Diabetes in itself can be a painful and rather festering disorder. If you see any of the symptoms that raise a red flag, it is best to seek professional medical help instantly.
Precaution is always better than cure.
