People who have diabetes with high blood sugar levels face a significantly higher risk of being hospitalized with serious illness from COVID-19, according to a review by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), based in Brussels, Belgium.
Each year, the federation publishes its IDF Diabetes Atlas, which summarizes the latest data on how the disease is affecting people around the world.
In the 2022 edition, researchers took a deep dive into the link between diabetes and COVID-19, analyzing 3,799 articles and 91 studies.
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The review found that “poor glycemic control was a risk factor for adverse COVID-19 outcomes.”
People with diabetes, in other words, who don’t properly control their blood glucose levels are at greater risk of experiencing severe symptoms.
People with diabetes who do not properly control their blood glucose levels are at greater risk of experiencing severe symptoms, according to the International Diabetes Federation. (iStock)
“There was a 35-40% increase in odds of hospitalization for COVID-19 and severe illness among adults with diabetes and hemoglobin A1c levels of 7% or greater compared with those with hemoglobin A1c less than 7%,” noted the Publication.
The hemoglobin A1C test measures how much of the body’s hemoglobin (a protein found in red blood cells) is coated with sugar; a higher percentage indicates a higher risk of diabetes.
Among people with diabetes hospitalized with COVID-19, having a blood sugar level greater than 10 mmol/L (180 mg/dL) tripled the risk of serious illness – which can lead to outcomes such as intensive care, ventilation or even death.
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Additionally, Atlas reported that people with type 1 diabetes were more likely to have critical illness or die from COVID-19 compared to people with type 2 diabetes.
The IDF wrote that there were some inconsistencies between studies in the methods used to determine whether patients had diabetes.
Weaker immunity increases risk
As Chief Medical Officer and Surgeon at the Center for Bariatric Surgery at Southwest General in Cleveland, Ohio, Dr. Leslie Pristas treats many patients with diabetes.
She agreed that diabetes is a strong risk factor associated with more severe illness and a higher risk of death from COVID, mainly because the immune system is not able to optimally fight infections.
Diabetes is a strong risk factor associated with more severe illness and a higher risk of dying from COVID-19. (AP Photo/John Minchillo, Archive)
“Diabetes and high blood sugar affect every organ and system in our bodies, but especially the immune system,” she told Fox News Digital.
“With diabetes, people have a higher level of chronic inflammation throughout their bodies early on, so when an infection occurs, the inflammatory response to that infection can be even more severe.”
Understanding types of diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is the most common form, affecting more than 37 million Americans (according to the CDC). The American Diabetes Association defines Type 2 diabetes as a condition in which the body does not use insulin properly.
“Diabetes and high blood sugar affect every organ and system in our bodies, but especially the immune system.”
In some cases, a nutrition and exercise plan can keep blood sugar at a healthy level, but some people may need medication or insulin.
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With type 1 diabetes, the body doesn’t produce enough insulin to move sugar from the blood into the cells, so it continues to build up in the bloodstream.
Only about 5-10% of all people with diabetes have type 1, says the CDC. Treatment includes following a healthy diet and exercise plan, monitoring blood sugar levels, and taking insulin regularly.
minimizing the risk
Keeping blood sugar at optimal levels is key to avoiding hospitalization or death from COVID.
“It can be done with diet, but there are also a lot of really useful drugs available,” said Dr. Prists. “If the diabetes is managed well, it may help a little bit, but the overall risk is still higher than for someone without diabetes.”
Keeping blood sugar at optimal levels is key to avoiding hospitalization or death from COVID. (iStock)
Antiviral drugs can also help improve COVID outcomes for people with diabetes.
doctor Joseph Iser, the recently retired director of health for the Southern Nevada Health District (SNHD), recommended asking a doctor to prescribe a medication that can prevent serious complications.
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The Doctor. Iser, who also has type 2 diabetes, tested positive for COVID a few months ago.
He took an antiviral drug, Paxlovid, to help prevent the disease from progressing.
Antiviral drugs can also help improve COVID outcomes for people with diabetes.
“[The medication] really helped strengthen my immune system,” he told Fox News Digital.
“I didn’t have any significant symptoms and the symptoms I had disappeared after the first 24 hours. I tested negative within five days, which is pretty good.”
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COVID and diabetes have also been linked in other ways.
Studies have found that people who get COVID have a higher risk of developing diabetes.
Research published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology in March 2022 showed that people who tested positive for the virus were about 40% more likely to be diagnosed with diabetes within a year, compared to people who didn’t have COVID.