Covid-19 is not the only pandemic ravaging the world’s population right now. Diabetes is another one—one that we have been dealing with for a long time. There seems to be a connection between the two, and that connection may be deeper than is currently thought.

We know that Covid-infected people with comorbidities such as cardiac disease, chronic pulmonary disease, asthma, obesity, and diabetes, are more likely to progress to serious disease and even death, than people who do not have such comorbidities. This is reason enough for people who have one or more of those conditions to be extra careful. They should stay at home as much as possible to minimize the chance that they might encounter an infected person. If they do go out, social distancing and mask wearing are essential survival strategies.

According to a letter to the New England Journal of Medicine, it now appears that there is an additional connection between Covid-19 and diabetes. Two different diseases, designated Type I and Type II diabetes, have been known for a long time. The symptoms of the two diseases can be the same although the underlying causes of the two are different. Type I diabetes tends to strike young people, making them insulin dependent. Type II diabetes tends to strike older people. It can often be managed by diet and lifestyle changes. Either type of diabetes qualifies as a comorbidity that makes the prognosis for a person with a Covid-19 infection much worse. Now a new connection between Covid-19 and diabetes has arisen.

People with no previous history of diabetes or dysregulation of glucose metabolism, have suddenly become diabetic after surviving a Covid-19 infection. It is not yet clear whether this new-onset diabetes is the same as Type I, Type II, or a new type altogether. The difference is important. A person with Type I diabetes will have the condition for life. There is no cure, because the pancreatic islet cells that control glucose metabolism have been irrevocably destroyed. Type II diabetes has a different cause that does not involve the complete destruction of the islet cells. Whether the new-onset diabetes that is triggered by a Covid-19 infection is like Type I, Type II, or something else is not yet known. A database of cases is being compiled to help in answering this question.

Does this information affect how you should behave, with respect to Covid-19? I’d say yes. Even in the absence of Covid-19, diabetes is no picnic, and should be avoided if at all possible.

• If you are diabetic, take all possible precautions to prevent becoming infected with Covid-19.
• Even if you are not diabetic, you could suddenly become diabetic after a Covid-19 infection. Take all possible precautions to prevent becoming infected with Covid-19.
• Inform the people you know about the dangers of new-onset diabetes. Encourage them to avoid Covid-19 infection by maintaining social distancing and wearing a mask while in public, or when they are anywhere near you.

BIO:

Allen G. Taylor is a 40-year veteran of the computer industry and the author of over 40 books, including Develop Microsoft HoloLens Apps Now, Get Fit with Apple Watch, Cruise for Free, SQL For Dummies, 9th Edition, Crystal Reports 2008 For Dummies, Database Development For Dummies, Access Power Programming with VBA, and SQL All-In-One For Dummies, Third Edition. He lectures internationally on astronomy, databases, innovation, and entrepreneurship. He also teaches database development and Crystal Reports through a leading online education provider. For the latest news on Allen’s activities, check out his blog at wwwallengtaylor.com or contact him at allen.taylor@ieee.org.