Everything You Need to Know About Diabetes

By Cheryl Alkon

Expert advice on preparing for the coronavirus: prescription refills, sick 24-hour interval kits, and general precautions . Updated three/17/20

Wash your hands. Don't bear upon your face. If you're sick, stay home. And like everything else with diabetes, it's all-time to be prepared.

Past now, you're probably aware of the novel coronavirus, the global infection named COVID-nineteen. While it originated in Communist china, it has now spread to different countries around the world, including the United States. The news about COVID-19 changes daily; stay up-to-engagement with factual, science-based information available from the Centers for Disease Command and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO).

Just what should y'all practice specifically if you or a loved 1 has diabetes? Melissa Young, Pharm.D., board certified in advanced diabetes direction, and a CDCES (certified diabetes care and pedagogy specialist, formerly called CDE, or certified diabetes educator), too urges self-instruction and training. "Nosotros want anybody to be prepared, only to ask for help if they need it," she said. "There may be a point where we are asked to stay home, and then we need to do our best to follow the guidelines but to seek medical care if needed."

Pay Attention to Prescriptions

Young cited the American Diabetes Clan'southward COVID-19 page report, which gives tips specific to people with diabetes. In general, she says, "Definitely make certain your medications are refilled. This is not the fourth dimension to go behind on medications." This includes any oral drugs you take to manage blood sugar, insulin, and whatever related supplies such equally syringes or pens, insulin pump supplies, pen needles, glucose strips, lancets, alcohol swabs, ketone strips, glucagon and any else you use to manage your diabetes.

Several factors – including your specific insurance plan, laws, and the type of medication – determine the amount of prescriptions and supplies yous can fill at a fourth dimension. If filled at a local pharmacy, this often means a 30-twenty-four hour period or sometimes a ninety-day supply. "It'southward likely yous will not exist able to fill up your prescription again if y'all've but refilled it," Young said. "Usually, it can be refilled once 80 to xc percent of your supply from the terminal prescription has been used." (Though this doesn't apply to controlled substances such as opioids, Young notes.) If you can utilize a mail-order pharmacy with your insurance, you can typically receive a xc-day supply with a healthcare professional'south prescription. But as the COVID-19 situation progresses, "check your insurer's website or ask your local pharmacist to see if they volition make allowances to refill prescriptions before than usual," Young said.

With all the doubtfulness of this epidemic, new data is coming out most prescription refill allowances:

• BlueCross BlueShield has appear a national COVID-nineteen coverage plan, including "waiving early on medication refill limits on xxx-day prescriptions [...] and/or encouraging members to apply their ninety-day mail order benefit."

• Aetna is providing 90-day prescription medications to members and people on Medicare insurance.

• Anthem is relaxing 30-24-hour interval refill limits, and encouraging members to ask their doctors for ninety-twenty-four hours prescriptions.

• UnitedHealthcare members can fill prescriptions early on (for a 90-twenty-four hour period supply) at their pharmacy or through mail order.

• Regence BlueCross BlueShield appear that they are easing refill restrictions for non-opioid medications, allowing 90-mean solar day prescription refills in Washington, Utah and Oregon.

• A Florida state statute allows people who alive in counties experiencing a declared state of emergency to get an early refill of chronic medications for up to a 30-day supply.

What is the risk of severe COVID-19 infection for people with well-managed diabetes?

Young couldn't say. "Preliminary data prove that the elderly and those with baseline chronic weather, such as diabetes, centre disease and lung illness, appear to be at higher risk for experiencing severe illness with this virus. [High claret glucose levels challenge] the immune arrangement, leaving the body vulnerable to astringent outcomes with infections. Working with your diabetes care team to manage blood sugars would help the immune organization to function properly and increase overall wellness. In add-on, keep a careful centre on your blood sugar if you are ill; illness can cause claret sugars to spike, leading to severe complications that further weaken the torso's power to fight the virus."

She also urged people with diabetes to continue taking non just their diabetes medications, but related prescribed drugs such every bit those for lowering cholesterol and blood pressure levels, too. "The more chronic conditions you have, the more you are at a higher risk." Keeping health atmospheric condition managed is vital for good health.

Be Savvy About Sick Days

As of this writing, more than than 167,000 people effectually the world have been diagnosed with COVID-19, and the number changes daily. People with chronic weather condition, such equally diabetes, are at a higher risk for getting sicker if they do show symptoms, Young said.

To be prepared, have a fully stocked sick-day kit at the set. Information technology should include the following, per Young and the ADCES:

• The name and phone number of your doctors, including a primary care doctor and anyone on your diabetes care team, such equally an endocrinologist or diabetes educator.

• A list of your active medications and doses, including supplements and vitamins.

• A card or piece of colored affiche board that states you have diabetes, to keep in your wallet; a bracelet, necklace or other vesture tag that indicates yous have diabetes.

• A source of uncomplicated carbohydrates to care for lows, kept separate from other nutrient in the firm. "Everyone thinks this is so uncomplicated, but what if someone else in the firm drinks the soda from the refrigerator or eats the LifeSavers," said Immature. Keeping them separate ensures they will be bachelor to you if needed.

• Alcohol swabs, actress hand sanitizer, ketone strips, glucagon.

Information technology's a good idea to know alee of getting ill how to treat symptoms, which can include a fever, cough, shortness of breath, and gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea. They announced 2-fourteen days after exposure, co-ordinate to the CDC. "Know what medications you tin can take over-the-counter if you have a fever or cough," said Immature. "It's important to read labels on over-the-counter medications considering information technology is easy to duplicate ingredients, and some medications can touch on blood sugars." Likewise, Tylenol (acetaminophen) is known to affect readings of some continuous glucose monitors (CGM), such as the Dexcom G5, Medtronic Enlite, and Guardian, notes the ADA website.

COVID-19 symptoms are like to those of influenza (the influenza). If you haven't already, Young urges people to get a flu shot. While it won't preclude against COVID-19, it will lessen the severity of flu symptoms and help keep you healthier, which tin can help you if you do get COVID-19.

General Precautions for All

• Whether you accept diabetes or do not, anybody should be washing hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds before eating, after using the bathroom, and after coming home from beingness out in public. Use mitt sanitizer when handwashing isn't possible.

• Face masks are not helpful if you aren't already sick.

• Stay educated by looking up daily updates from the CDC, WHO, ADA and from fact-based news sources.

"There are and so many resources about this," said Young. "We don't desire people to have questions that are unanswered, as that leads to fear."

What if yous call up you lot might have the coronavirus?

• Phone call your healthcare team. Do not get to the doctor'south office or emergency room without first calling, to assist protect others. If you do not accept a md, call your state or local health department.

• Your healthcare professional will inquire questions: do you have a cough? Shortness of breath? A high fever? Have you traveled recently? If they think y'all may have the virus, yous will probably be brash to self-quarantine at abode.

• Wear a mask if you are around others. Avert close contact, practise not share personal items, and disinfect all common surfaces frequently.

• Currently there is no treatment for coronavirus. At this time, testing is very limited in the United States; you may not receive a exam for a balmy case.

When should you get to the doctor or the emergency room?

• If you are experiencing more than and more shortness of jiff  – especially if you are unable to complete a sentence without taking a breath.

• Older people with other health conditions are at higher adventure for severe infection, so should consider getting immediate intendance.

To read more than COVID-19 preparation strategies from diaTribe, click here.

Most Cheryl

Cheryl Alkon is a seasoned author and the author of the volume Balancing Pregnancy With Pre-Existing Diabetes: Good for you Mom, Healthy Baby. The volume has been chosen "Easily down, the best book on type 1 diabetes and pregnancy, roofing all the major issues that women with type i face up. Information technology provides excellent tips and secrets for achieving the best management" by Gary Scheiner, the author of Call back Similar A Pancreas. Since 2010, the volume has helped countless women around the world conceive, abound and deliver good for you babies while also dealing with diabetes.

Cheryl covers diabetes and other health and medical topics for diverse impress and online clients. She lives in Massachusetts with her family unit and holds an undergraduate degree from Brandeis University and a graduate degree from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.

She has lived with type 1 diabetes for more than four decades, since being diagnosed in 1977 at age 7.

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Source: https://diatribe.org/what-you-need-know-about-diabetes-and-coronavirus