Hello newbie to the forum and very worried

[Donnaann12]

Hello I got diagnosed with type 2 a few months ago and my last blood test showed my numbers going right down, however I am very worried and can’t sleep because of the Corona Virus, can I die if I catch it? I havnt had any complications from diabetes and I’m controlling it through diet, just trying to swap for healthier foods, can anyone help I have a young son and I’m terrified!

 

[grovesy]

If you are managing with diet and your numbers are down. This suggests you are well controlled. This means you have done e everything you can to help.

 

[Donnaann12]

Thank you I still give myself a treat at weekends though haven't really got a sweet tooth it’s more savoury. It’s the pneumonia part of corona virus I worry about as Iv heard it can kill people with diabetes im only 39 so don’t want to go just yet.

 

[Drummer]

Well - although the totally truthful answer is yes, there are a lot of maybes.
With you having a youngster in the house, you might have already acquired some immunity as children tend to have lots of colds and coughs, some of which are from viruses in the same family as covid19.
With a child in the house you are likely doing more washing of surfaces as a matter of routine - also washing clothes regularly, possibly even daily - that reduces the likelihood of transfer.
Having a child in the house means you are still young - less likely to have underlying problems anyway.
I am a well controlled type two, and do not count myself as having underlying health problems - I might catch the virus, but don't consider myself at any higher risk.

 

[Donnaann12]

My youngest child is 15 I do find that when I catch a cold it doesn’t last very long I had one a few days ago which lasted only two days and I was back to normal.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Welcome to the forum @Donnaann12

Please try not to worry too much about the increased risks from Covid19 / Coronavirus.

Any illness can be potentially more serious for someone living with diabetes (particularly if the illness becomes serious during its course) , but as others have said it depends a lot on many factors... not least because ‘diabetes’ often carries with it an increased likelihood of things like raised blood pressure and heart disease (which not everyone with diabetes has).

Its a bit like the increased risk from being mentioned from being older. Some people in their 60s are fit as a flea, while others are quite frail and have multiple health problems. those two are at very different levels of risk, but both fit into the ‘category’.

So while it is accurate that people living with long term conditions like diabetes are at statistically increased risk from Coronavirus, that is not an individual assessment based on all factors in your exact situation.

Your best bet is to follow the official guidance about handwashing and hygiene, and to recognise that it is quite likely that you *will* develop Coronavirus over the next few years (its a new disease and none of us has any immunity to it). The important thing is that not everyone gets it all at once... so that the small proportion who get more seriously ill don’t need more specialist support all at once. 🙂

 

[Donnaann12]

Thank you very much for your advice I feel a little bit better now, I think the media have a big part to play in causing people to panic.

 

[Alicem81]

Hi there, I am/was feeling much the same as you. I’m 38 and since having two GD pregnancies I’m now on metformin to try to reduce my chances of developing full blown type 2. I’m controlled well on this and don’t have any diabetes related health problems. Like a previous post said, this is a new type of virus from the group so we just need to keep up with a good hygiene routine and especially don’t touch eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands. Also clean mobiles, remote controls etc regularly as these get handled by multiple people in some cases!

 

[Drummer]

I heard of someone scrubbing their hands raw - washing every half an hour, even though they were not in contact with anyone or anything from outside - just totally illogical.

 

[grovesy]

Why is it illogical?

 

[trophywench]

Well because scrubbing any bit of you raw is OTT and hence, illogical. You can get rid of any dirt OK but causing injury to yourself by doing it is Not On.

 

[Pumper_Sue]

Hello I got diagnosed with type 2 a few months ago and my last blood test showed my numbers going right down, however I am very worried and can’t sleep because of the Corona Virus, can I die if I catch it? I havnt had any complications from diabetes and I’m controlling it through diet, just trying to swap for healthier foods, can anyone help I have a young son and I’m terrified!

Hello and welcome to the forum.
I'm reasonably sure that the very badly worded scare mongering regarding diabetes and being more at risk is aimed at people who are badly controlled/managed. People with diabetes who have good numbers will have the same prospects as everyone else who is healthy. After all you are healthy with a label of diabetes.
I also suspect worry will kill far more people than the virus.

 

[Neens]

I hope you are feeling a bit better about the situation and welcome to the forum. 🙂

 

[Tee G]

Hi @Donnaann12 - I think you are quite right about the media making people panic.

I think, as long as we exercise diligence and care around the main advice tips, to was hands thoroughly (and moisturising afterwards to avoid cracking skin, with all the extra washing!) - Leave shoes at the front door (not walk them through the house). Give surfaces a little extra attention. When out an about just be mindful of your surroundings and where your hands go i.e. keep them away from your face until they have been cleaned. Things like that, its all we can do.

What the media are not fond of telling us is...many people have/had the virus and dont / didnt even know it !. Loads have fully recovered. Others had it and some reported its like having a mild flu - others reported more severe flu like symptoms, and a portion have a bad/fatal reaction. We just dont know. Its a new strain, but eventually we will gain some immunity from it - our bodies, on the whole, are marvellous machines and have many built in mechanisms/barriers to stop a bug to getting through. Try not to worry - we are all in the same boat.

 

[Donnaann12]

Thank you I think il be taking a break from social media and the news before long as they just add to the fear. All those people clearing supermarket shelves and people posting conspiracy theories doesn’t help neither.

 

[Docb]

Don't forget John Humphry's recommendation on how to do journalism..... first, you simplify, then you exaggerate.

 

[ianf0ster]

Something people can to to help is to volunteer.
I have joined this international volunteer effort:
Why not help by joining international volunteer group to stop the Covid-19 outbreak?
See this Twitter thread: https://twitter.com/yaneerbaryam/sta...67530638282752
They have a group Slack workspace, which I have joined, for organising and sharing ideas.

They are looking for organising skills, technical skills down to people to deliver food to those self isolating and vulnerable, or just people with contacts/influence to find others with skills etc.

Before you dismiss this as just some crackpots, it's led by a serious pandemic expert, a close contact of NN Taleb who is the author of 'The Black swan' and 'Fooled By Randomness'

 

[Sharron1]

When this is all over let's hope that one thing that will stay with people is the importance of washing hands properly.

Martin

What I don't understand is how (or why) people somehow forgot basic hygiene ie washing hands.

 

[Donnaann12]

Just had all my bloods done and a full blood count so if there was anything to worry about regarding diabetes and underlying issues about catching this Corona Virus I would of known by now? I had these done 2 weeks ago. I must admit I did get a bit panicked and tearful watching the news tonight but iv calmed down a bit now.

 

[Bruce Stephens]

When this is all over let's hope that one thing that will stay with people is the importance of washing hands properly.

I heard one former public health guy suggesting that washing hands wasn't that useful for this virus at this stage, but the attention ought to show up in statistics of reduced cases food poisoning.