6 tips for diabetics amid the coronavirus outbreak

(Photo via Shutterstock)

By Mike Scott, mscott@stph.org

By now, we all know the new rules for life in the age of coronavirus: Wash your hands, use proper cough etiquette and, perhaps most importantly, hunker down at home for the next few weeks.

For people with underlying health conditions, however, additional precautions should be taken. That includes people with diabetes, according to Terry Compton RN, who heads up St. Tammany Health System’s diabetes education program.

“People with diabetes do face a higher chance of experiencing some of the serious complications from COVID-19,” Compton said Monday morning (March 23) in an interview on The Lake 94.7 FM. “However, if someone is doing really well managing their diabetes, then the risk is basically the same as anyone in terms of being able to recover. So we really want to look at those people with heart disease or kidney disease or compromised immune systems and make sure they’re taking care of themselves especially well.”

Below, find six tips Compton shared for diabetics during the ongoing COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak:  

1. The value of testing

“We want to make sure people understand that they (should be) checking their blood glucoses more frequently just so they’re aware of what their blood sugars are doing,” Compton said. “That gives you at least a gauge of what is actually happening -- whether your medications are working or whether you’re at high risk of getting some of the complications from diabetes.”

2. Get your supplies now

“Just like when we manage a hurricane, we want to make sure we have adequate supplies in our home, and that includes our medications,” Compton said. “So, make sure you have enough insulin if you’re taking insulin, and that you have those supplies to administer the insulin, such as syringes or pen needles, (and) have extra test strips so you have the supplies to check your blood sugars.”

Compton added that some insurers are issuing waivers to allow patients to get as many as 90 days’ worth of supplies at once, meaning fewer trips to the pharmacy – and, thus, less potential COVID exposure. You should call your pharmacy to see if they can help with that and to make sure they have enough supplies on hand for you before you leave the house to pick them up.

“There is no shortage of any of the medications that we need to treat diabetes, so people shouldn’t be fearful that they’re not available,” she said. “We just need to make sure that your pharmacy’s given enough time (to fill your order). They may even be set up for delivery, so that way you’re not having to go out.”

3. Don’t forget the keto sticks

“People with Type 1 diabetes are at risk for getting diabetic ketoacidosis, which can be a life-threating condition,” Compton said. “So, we also recommend having keto sticks. That is something someone would be able to check at home through their urine to see whether they’re breaking down those fatty acids that can cause them to be very sick with diabetes.”

4. In case of illness …

Experts keep stressing how important it is for everyone to stay at home. But what if someone in your home becomes sick?

In that situation, Compton recommends keeping the sick person in a separate area of the house from those who aren’t showing symptoms and designating one person to provide care for him or her to reduce the chance of whole-house exposure.

If the person is showing potential COVID symptoms – similar to those for flu – call your doctor’s office for further guidance. Proper precautions should also be taken by anyone coming into contact with the patient, including wearing a facemask and gloves if available, and washing their hands thoroughly after all interactions, which should be kept to a minimum.

5. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate

Everybody knows you’re supposed to drink lots of fluids if you get sick. But you shouldn’t wait until you’re sick to start hydrating.

“Drinking fluids is so important,” Compton said. “With people having high blood sugars, making sure they’re drinking things like water or other sugar-free beverages is really important. Hydration is a big help in terms of overcoming a lot of illnesses.”

6. Get your flu shot. Now.

What’s worse than getting COVID-19? Getting COVID-19 and the flu at the same time. To avoid the complications of dealing with both at once, Compton suggests getting your flu shot if you haven’t already.

“I can’t overemphasize getting your flu shot,” Compton said. “If you haven’t gotten it, this is possibly the time to go on and get yourself immunized with the flu vaccine. Because we are still seeing cases of flu, even today.”

Find the latest available information on COVID-19 in St. Tammany Parish at stph.org/COVID-19.