Diabetes and Covid-19 - Vaccination is the way forward

Diabetes is a scary disease as it causes many complications and Diabetic patients take a big hit if Covid-19 viral infection strikes. Vaccination is the way forward Overall, Covid-19 is a risky disease causing much loss in quality of life and death. Hence vaccinate (including booster doses) oneself and protect from Covid-19.

Covid-19 stands for coronavirus disease 2019. This viral disease started its journey from Wuhan, China’s wet non-veg wildlife market and rapidly spread across the world with astonishing speed. The causative germ SARS-CoV-2 (severe acure respiratory syndrome, coronavirus 2) is a novel virus that is alleged to have jumped from the bat to pangolin and from there to humans. This RNA (ribose nucleic acid) virus has an attraction towards ACE2 receptors, which are specific proteins located on the outer surface of human cell membranes in respiratory system (nose, throat, airways to lungs) and various other organs including kidney, liver, pancreas, mouth, adipose tissue, testicles and small intestine.

On inhalation or entry through the mouth, the tiny 90 nm viral particles (range: 65 nm to 125 nm), about 100 million or 10 crore SARS-CoV-2 viral particles can fit on a pin head, get attracted to the ACE2 receptors and bind with them. The virus then assimilates into the host cell membrane and finally enters inside the cell. The virus RNA moves to the host human cell nucleus and starts to control the cellular activity to make millions of copies of itself. The new viruses thus created in the host cell are released outside the cell and they infect other cells. There by the virus multiplies and viral load increases in the body. If body’s immunity suppresses the virus then the patient recovers.

However, if the Covid-19 virus SARS-CoV-2 load increases in the lungs, the viral infection leads to lung inflammation (swelling and loss of function), this is called viral pneumonia or viral lung infection. This is a dangerous stage since oxygen transfer from lungs to blood is impaired. Thereby other organs of the body do not function properly as they are starved for oxygen. This affects production of WBCs or fighter white blood cells. Immunity weakens and death occurs due to Covid-19 viral pneumonia.

Also Read: How to regain your health post a Covid-19 Infection?

Diabetes

Improper metabolism or cellular chemical reactions where blood glucose levels increase and remain high in a sustained manner, this metabolic disease is called diabetes. Glucose needs to be transferred into cells from the bloodstream for energy (ATP) production and cell activity. Insulin circulating in blood is a protein chemical messenger (hormone), which enables transfer of glucose from bloodstream into the cells.

Insulin is a key and unlocks the gate in cell membrane to enable entry of glucose from blood into the cell. Further, excess glucose in blood is also converted to glycogen and then to fats by liver (if glucose presence is required in blood, stored fats under the skin are transported to liver and converted to glycogen and then to glucose, and released to blood). This way excess blood glucose is lowered and normal blood glucose range is maintained.

Diabetes is a scary disease as it causes diabetic complications – a series of “pathys”, nephropathy (disease of kidneys), neuropathy (disease of nerves), retinopathy (disease of retina in eye), dermopathy (disease of skin) and so on. In addition, due to lack of glucose inside the cells but excess glucose in the bloodstream, diabetics are fatigued, have emotional disturbances like irritability, suffer abnormally high thirst and hunger and shed body weight suddenly. Doctors recommend exercise, diet and medicine to control diabetes and avoid diabetic complications.

Covid-19 and diabetes

Diabetic patients take a big hit if Covid-19 viral infection strikes. They suffer severe Covid-19 more easily. Recovery is also slower than normal patients. Further, Covid-19 viral disease is also known to cause diabetes, terming the viral disease Covid-19 as diabetogenic. If steroids are used for longer period to manage viral disease symptoms, then the steroids themselves cause diabetes as a side effect.

Stress hyperglycemia (sustained increase in blood glucose levels) due to inability to cope with a situation is also increased in Covid-19 patients. Frequency and severity of diabetic complications is also increased due to Covid-19. Thus, Covid-19 affects diabetics and precipitates diabetes in prediabetics and other vulnerable people.

Also Read: Vaccine is the best way to get the world out of pandemic mode

Covid-19: vaccination is the way forward

Overall, Covid-19 is a risky disease causing much loss in quality of life and death. The single most potent weapon against Covid-19 continues to be prevention through vaccination. Use of mask to reduce viral load entry through nose and mouth is a very valid approach to protect oneself from Covid-19. Particularly, in closed rooms and air conditioned places, Covid-19 virus transmission with higher viral loads is possible. Hence, vaccinate (including booster doses) oneself and protect from Covid-19.