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Can COVID Really Cause Diabetes? Here's What You Should Know

The COVID-19 pandemic has been the world’s biggest health risk since it first came to light. What makes the virus so lethal is that it leads to further complications, often endangering major internal organs, most notably the lungs.

Recent research suggests that a COVID-19 infection can also result in the sudden onset of diabetes. People with diabetes can also be prone to experiencing severe COVID illness, with high probability of death compared to those without diabetes.

While the studies substantiating it are still in their early stages, this connection between COVID and diabetes should be taken seriously. Here are the ways COVID influences diabetes, and how you can protect yourself and your loved ones.

How COVID Relates To Diabetes

Experts have discovered that COVID-19 can also target the pancreas. The virus can directly damage the pancreatic beta cells, which are the cells responsible for insulin production. When these are damaged, it is harder to control blood sugar levels.

The virus also damages the cells around the beta cells since the former reproduces in the pancreas. Regulating blood sugar with COVID can be more challenging because the virus can reprogram the surviving cells and impair them.

With COVID-19 introduced in a diabetic individual’s system, the person can experience higher blood sugar levels.

The virus also uses ACE-2, a protein located on the surfaces of some cells, to enter bodies and infect them. ACE-2 can also be found in the pancreas, therefore making diabetic individuals more susceptible to this viral attack.

Certain reports have also compared pancreas cells grown in the lab and those from people who died from the virus, rendering a revelation that COVID can indeed enter and infect the insulin-producing cells. Hence, people infected with COVID cannot produce enough insulin as the virus either kills or changes how these cells work. Another working theory is that the immune system can attack and destroy beta cells when the virus affects the pancreas.

This simply means that people, regardless of whether they’re considered prediabetic or not, may fall victim to the effects of COVID, leading to insulin resistance that eventually translates to diabetes. On the other hand, those who already have been diagnosed with diabetes are at a much more vulnerable state compared to their counterparts.

Tips On COVID and Diabetes Prevention

Experts will need further tests in order to provide conclusive answers, but given how rapidly COVID mutates and how little we know about this virus, it’s best to err on the side of caution.

While large-scale preventive measures are still being implemented by various countries to curb the spread of the virus, individual efforts are still highly necessary in order to protect yourself from the dangers of both health threats.

Here are some of the best practices for COVID and diabetes prevention:

1.Adapt to the lifestyle

In the time of COVID, a healthier lifestyle means following the necessary protocols—that is, consistently wearing masks if you are in public areas or if you reside with anyone with previous exposure to potential carriers, maintaining physical distance from other individuals, avoiding the shared use of utensils, and regularly checking your status through swab tests.

2.Be physically active

To build a stronger immune system, you should incorporate regular exercise into your routine and opt for a well-balanced diet to keep your body healthy in the face of an unpredictable virus.

Going to the gym might not be as safe as it was before the pandemic hit. Instead, go for exercises that can be done indoors, such as yoga or cycling with a stationary bike. If you prefer to run or walk outside, make sure that you still practice the appropriate preventive measures.

Exercise also keeps your weight and blood sugar in check, so make sure that you do this regularly.

3.Be more mindful of your diet

With proper exercise comes the need for a proper diet. If you want to be truly healthy to combat both COVID and diabetes, you must always have a well-balanced meal that will equip you with the nutrients and vitamins your body needs. Incorporate more fiber to have a healthier diet to help you feel fuller. Make sure you get ample servings of vegetables and carbohydrates, and opt for fruits instead of sweets.

For beverages, water is always the best option, but you can introduce teas into your system, especially ones made of all-natural ingredients that are proven beneficial.

4.Monitor yourself

Since both of these illnesses can be difficult to track especially if symptoms are yet to worsen, it’s always a good idea to frequently monitor yourself instead. If you already have diabetes, always track your blood sugar to avoid more serious illnesses. To make sure you don’t contract COVID, take swab tests, be they PCR or Antigen—so long as they are safely administered and properly read by specialists.

5.Always stay updated

COVID is yet to die down, so it’s smart to stay vigilant for possible updates. Keep yourself updated by reading the news and credible studies on the matter. The same goes with diabetes, especially as research on the latter remains in development. Avoid sites that are known for fear-mongering as it will not help you get better.

Conclusion

Diabetes may have gotten more complicated at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, but both can be managed and prevented. By actively choosing a healthier lifestyle, you can protect yourself and your loved ones from the dangers of both COVID and diabetes.

An excellent first step toward a healthier lifestyle is dropping the sodas and instead incorporating an all-natural cleansing tea into your diet. Prevent diabetes, high cholesterol, and hypertension by choosing Lowsutea as your new partner for diabetes management and prevention. Learn more about our product here.

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