Anxious thoughts/worries and all that comes with Covid-19

[tombrum]

Hi,

New to the board with this username, I registered many years back and did not come back to the forum so I thought I would jump in with a discussion and a bit of solidarity through fellow Diabetics too.

I am really nervous to be honest, my anxiety levels fluctuate most days with the current news due to personal health anxiety and having a father in-law who is not in a good condition with his health. One of the things that I do try my utter best with is control. I have an average HBA1C of 6.5 and it has only once gone up to 7. A mixture of low carb/DAFNE and determination has led me to this point and it has not really been much different since the age of 17 (I am now 35) when I was diagnosed.

Am I right in thinking, as a result of this control and having good bloods/cholestoral/BMI and other positive factors that whilst I am still at risk this in turn lowers the risk ? Last year I travelled back from Ireland and got a 24 hour bug/virus which rendered me fairly unwell with some high blood sugars. I used my sick day rules from DAFNE and kept the mostly in check when I became ill, I had been vomiting throughout the day and unable to keep food down - exhausted etc, it was pretty scary as my go to thinking was that I was going to get DKA which was not the case but I can go there mentally sometimes and whilst it keeps me in check with my control it can have an adverse effect negatively. I regularly go to catastrophic thinking which is something I have had to work on throughout the years !!

I am just nervous, I know nervousness/stress breeds poor resilience in the body so I have been doing some work to self sooth through drawing, art and watching positive TV shows/films that I like etc. I am aware and the honest side of me knows that I have to get to grips that this is not going to go away tomorrow, my partner raised a point that you can put things in place with your health and daily activities around Corona Virus but you also need to give the right love to self-care too so I am determined to stay on track with this. I also have a cat who helps with calming me !! I can hoover up the news easily at times and fall victim to moral panics so I have to turn to the work I have done on my own designed version of CBT to stop the constant worrying.

Hello to you all, not sure what this subject is about other than stating how I feel and how I am getting on with things. Looking forward to hearing from people xxx

 

[Thebearcametoo]

Hi and welcome. I think we’re all a bit in the dark about how exactly it might affect any individual but being in target with your glucose levels is a great start. Reminding yourself of sick day rules so have the protocols in your mind for if you do get ill (and making sure other family members know how to help you too). Good hygiene, reducing unnecessary interactions with other people etc. But yeah limiting your exposure to news may well help more than anything else if it’s making your anxiety worse. It’s great that you already have a toolbox of coping mechanisms 🙂 🙂

 

[Amity Island]

Hi,
I can only give my opinion, but I wouldn't of thought having diabetes per se would necessarily make it any more difficult to fight a virus. If you are diabetic and understand sick day rules, take required amount of insulin, continue to eat some carbs even if you don't feel up to it. There shouldn't be any other problems than fighting off the virus.

 

[grovesy]

Welcome back.
I saw a GP saying the best thing people with Diabetes and Asthma can do , is to control as best they can.I think it is good place to start.

 

[grovesy]

I have seen a criticism that they are not saying how many have recovered. I think that is lack of media reporting on those.

 

[Sally71]

That wouldn’t surprise me, the media don’t seem to like giving out good news, do they! I gave up watching TV news many years ago because it's all so depressing.

 

[grovesy]

That wouldn’t surprise me, the media don’t seem to like giving out good news, do they! I gave up watching TV news many years ago because it's all so depressing.

I have seen some of them give some the experts a hard time when they interview them, even though they on the whole being clear.

 

[Simone rahman]

Has anyone with diabetes self isolated due to the concern of catching the virus as our immune systems are lower than the norm?

 

[Simone rahman]

I work in a Jewellers and our main customers are elderly people. I have to be close to people and be in physical contact on a daily basis - which worries me a lot right now. I wear gloves, stopped getting busses and wash my hands constantly but I feel as though I’m still very close to people when I work. I just don’t know what to do. I am quite young and I am relatively healthy and my nurse told me to start asking people if they’ve travelled before I serve them but my employer obviously doesn’t want me to do that so I don’t really know what’s to do for the best.

 

[Bruce Stephens]

Am I right in thinking, as a result of this control and having good bloods/cholestoral/BMI and other positive factors that whilst I am still at risk this in turn lowers the risk ?

That's my guess, yes. While "diabetes" is in the list of things which puts people at extra risk, I'm sure I've also seen lists mentioning "high blood glucose". So it seems possible they're thinking more of people with Type 2, possibly poorly controlled. (After all, Type 2 make up around 90% of "diabetes".) And if someone's Type 2 they're more likely to be overweight (which can cause respiratory problems amongst other things).

My guess is that beyond the usual problems (sickness causes various problems for Type 1) there probably isn't much concrete known about Type 1 and this new coronovirus.

 

[rebrascora]

I have a cough and chestiness and feel a bit under the weather and have been like this for just over a week now and not responding to my asthma inhalers, so guessing it is not asthma. I live rural and tend not to have contact with many people anyway, just mostly my animals and my partner who also has very little close contact with people, but I am keeping a lower than usual profile. I have a ticket for the theatre tonight but have decided not to go as I am concerned that I have a virus and whilst very unlikely to be Covid19 (unless it is much more widespread than the government believes), I don't want to put any more pressure on the NHS by potentially spreading whatever I do have.

 

[rebrascora]

Sorry to hear you're poorly, Barbara. Hope you're better soon.

Martin

Thanks Martin. Not desperately ill or anything and it doesn't seem to be getting any worse after a week, so that is reassuring, but having a bit of a dry cough and chestiness which is not responding to asthma treatment is a bit odd for me, especially when it is one of the main symptoms of Covid19.
I certainly don't want people to think I am being inconsiderate by going out in public with a cough though.

 

[Mephistophlillie]

Story here of a T1 that’s got over COVID-19

Coronavirus: 'The worst bit is the uncontrollable coughing'

One man with type 1 diabetes describes his symptoms after contracting the virus in Italy.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Hello @tombrum

Welcome to the forum.

You might find this information developed by Diabetes UK specifically with reference to the potential impact of Coronavirus for people living with diabetes helpful

Coronavirus and diabetes updates

All the coronavirus information below applies to the whole of the UK, unless specified. We've noted where are some differences in guidance and diabetes services across the UK.

www.diabetes.org.uk

In the main, I suspect that while there is a degree of increased risk for PWD versus the general population, this is risk that can be significantly mitigated with sensible precautions. Obviously there are other complicating factors which might make things a bit more complex for some individuals (additional conditions and/or clinical factors), but try not to allow your anxiety to run you ragged. 🙂

 

[trophywench]

I have to be truthful - I have at least two auro-immune conditions ie T1 and hypothyroidism - yet it always seems to me that when we go on winter rallies in our motorhome mixing indoors with a number of different people but usually 10/12 people not 100s - Pete (who only has a max of 35% lung capacity) ALWAYS comes back with with already or appears a couple of days after - yet another chest infection, whereas I don't really.

I may eg spend one day sneezing with my nose running to such a degree it even drips before I can get a tissue to it. Then next day I'm OK by lunchtime. ie I get a bit of a cold, meanwhile OH is religiously on yet another week's course of ABs and steroids.

But when he was first diagnosed he'd woken up struggling for breath and we had to dial 999 who had walked in carrying portable oxygen which they attached him to before attempting any other checks and carted him off to hospital, admitted without that much delay (only 6 hours till he got his bed) then on oxygen and inhaled heavy duty steroid for the next 5 days.

Oddly enough - we were very concerned then - but now we're sh!t scared. BUT - still not panicking cos there's absolutely nothing to be gained by doing that. Ever!

 

[Flutterby]

Hi tombrum

I too suffer with anxiety and have stopped watching the news. I check for updates online and try to filter out the news when its on. I have a stock of tinned food and of course I bought some toilet rolls lol but not in excess!

I must admit that hearing the PM say what he did tonight made me cry. I have elderly parents who want to continue going shopping for the sake of their mental well being. I understand that and won't order them not to, how could I anyway? But it terrifies me.

I am not going to coffee shops, restaurants, pubs, theatres at the moment. My husband works in a betting shop so could potentially bring it home to me. Self isolation isnt really possible in our house.

I have bought lots of books and will spend time reading but I also have back problems so I do need to keep going for walks. I will still go to shops but not hang around.

I actually think I am in shock that all this is really happening.

Everyone has to make their own mind up what works for them and I applaud your self awareness and CBT approach. Well done.

 

[grovesy]

I am only in my mid 60's and I don't consider my self as Elderly.
I have just had my appointment through for April for my Retinal Screening, it does not take as long as normal eye test. So unless things change I intend to still go for it.

 

[Kaylz]

I am only in my mid 60's and I don't consider my self as Elderly.
I have just had my appointment through for April for my Retinal Screening, it does not take as long as normal eye test. So unless things change I intend to still go for it.

I'm due my eye check up on the 15th April at the ophthalmology department, I have a feeling it will be cancelled though xx

 

[tombrum]

Thank you for all of the sharing and information which isn’t a mixture of jarred statistics and debatable news. Having re-read my post it shows that my anxiety levels are quite alarming, usually they are not as high as this but the worrying is still a common place in my mind. I used to be terrible in my early 20’s but have worked things through and have a good partner who can put me in my place when I need it. I guess it’s being a cancerian if I look on the spiritual side of things. Weirdly, I was presented with the shared BBC post when I got home last night. Interesting !

Hearing the news though last night and hearing the statement from WHO and PM brought it home I feel for a lot more people, it’s weird because some people on Instagram aren’t even mentioning but other formats Twitter/FB allows huge opinion spreading – I guess the argument of people sharing their best bits/having a voice is coming through. I am sticking to the WHO at present.

 

[Bruce Stephens]

I'm due my eye check up on the 15th April at the ophthalmology department

Mine's on 7 April. I'm not sure whether it'll be postponed or not, but I wouldn't be at all surprised if it doesn't happen.