Hi I have just joined this site, I have been trying to find answers about my query online but hope by joining here someone may give me the answers I need and anyone else in my position. I am diabetes 2 and only been for the last 10 months. This coronavirus is causing new huge problems universally daily and it has now got me in a spin what are we doing what should we do etc.so much to ask but still not enough known. I am at this moment self isolating as i have a cold and feel unwell but no cough or fever. What i want to know os if anyone has any knowledge about people with underlying issues such as diabetes should be self isolating for alot longer like the new announcement of the elderly are imminently expected to do so said on the news today. I work in a small local supermarket and no matter how much gel i use it will not exactly prevent me from getting it. I use gloves at work now but would probably need a mask which are becoming expensive and scarce online. Different opinions on using masks but I am not going to risk being near individuals and families coming into the shop and coughing and sneezing etc as i serve at the till and using cash whic is surely a huge germ spreader. I am diabetic and in the front line of customer service serving cintinually daily at the till . I want to know that as the government have implemented the self isolate for the elderly which is imperitive, are the government at all taking in consideration people with underlying conditions to isolate for the proposed period of time of 4 months too? People with diabetes are high risk and of course other diseases etc like cancer patients chronic lung diseases and many more who all are vuleranable. If I for example get coronavirus it will kill me. I know it will as I have to have the flu jab for I was hospitalised in the past because of flu hence having a flu jab since. I am in my 50s and am high risk having diabetes 2 as others on this site and do not know where I stand as to wether I should be working in a high risk job of catching this virus or if i am in the group of those that should be self isolating in line with the elderly and vuleranable. We need more specific information. Any advice or help would be appreciated no doubt not only for myself but many others in this and similar situations.
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Working and coronavirus
- Thread starter Lee2030
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grovesy
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
In truth no one knows for sure most of the answers to your questions. This is a new virus and the scientists are learning new things about all time. The risk categories have been classified as the risk groups because so far these groups are the people who seem to have been affected mostly.
If you are concerned why not see if you can have a phone consultation with your Doctor to discuss them.
If you are concerned why not see if you can have a phone consultation with your Doctor to discuss them.
Inka
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Hi Lee,
There are lots of people with diabetes and other relevant health conditions in jobs that are ‘high contact’ eg teachers, nurses, care workers, etc. I don’t think the government has issued detailed information but it might well do at a later date.
All I’m doing personally is keeping to strict hygiene rules and making sure I look after my general health. If you have particular concerns about aspects of your job, perhaps you could speak to your employer.
Do remember that most people survive this. There was a news story about a man with Type 1 who had Coronavirus and he recovered fine. I found that good to hear.
There are lots of people with diabetes and other relevant health conditions in jobs that are ‘high contact’ eg teachers, nurses, care workers, etc. I don’t think the government has issued detailed information but it might well do at a later date.
All I’m doing personally is keeping to strict hygiene rules and making sure I look after my general health. If you have particular concerns about aspects of your job, perhaps you could speak to your employer.
Do remember that most people survive this. There was a news story about a man with Type 1 who had Coronavirus and he recovered fine. I found that good to hear.
Sally71
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Parent of person with diabetes
Official advice for those with diabetes and asthma is to keep your condition as well controlled as you possibly can, then if you are unlucky enough to catch it you will have a stronger starting point and will be more likely to survive. I have asthma (albeit mild, don’t need my inhalers very often), my daughter has type 1 diabetes and asthma, and apart from being more careful with hygiene we are just carrying on as normal until someone tells us not to (waiting on tenterhooks for schools to close!).
There's so much different information out there about this thing that it's getting difficult to know what to believe any more, so I’ve stopped reading most of it and will just follow any official instructions that we get.
There's so much different information out there about this thing that it's getting difficult to know what to believe any more, so I’ve stopped reading most of it and will just follow any official instructions that we get.
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
- Pronouns
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Hello @Lee2030
Welcome to the forum
Sorry to hear how worried you have become over Coronavirus. You are not the only new member to have come looking for answers, but as has been said, all we can really expect is general guidance, rather than a precise individually tailored assessment of risk.
For the vast majority of people (and personally I think that’s likely to include the vast majority of people with diabetes too) Coronavirus will only be a mild illness, which lasts a short time. however I completely understand your concerns, given your experience with the flu, so it could well be worth tryng to get phone call for specific advice from your GP.
However, any illness can be potentially complicated by diabetes, especially if BG is not behaving well and is straying outside of target ranges.
Since you are relatively newly diagnosed, and aside from your flu run-in, unless you have other complicating factors (eg lung disease, raised BP, heart condition) I would hope that coronavirus would not cause you too much trouble. But it is certainly wise to take steps to protect yourself so that if you did need to receive urgent support, it would be at a time where there was capacity in the system for you.
Personally, I wouldn’t be wearing a mask, and I think these are more likely to be counterproductive (touch an infected surface... adjust your mask... now your mask is contaminated a remaining right near your nose and mouth). That’s just my opinion though... not official advice.
Welcome to the forum
Sorry to hear how worried you have become over Coronavirus. You are not the only new member to have come looking for answers, but as has been said, all we can really expect is general guidance, rather than a precise individually tailored assessment of risk.
For the vast majority of people (and personally I think that’s likely to include the vast majority of people with diabetes too) Coronavirus will only be a mild illness, which lasts a short time. however I completely understand your concerns, given your experience with the flu, so it could well be worth tryng to get phone call for specific advice from your GP.
However, any illness can be potentially complicated by diabetes, especially if BG is not behaving well and is straying outside of target ranges.
Since you are relatively newly diagnosed, and aside from your flu run-in, unless you have other complicating factors (eg lung disease, raised BP, heart condition) I would hope that coronavirus would not cause you too much trouble. But it is certainly wise to take steps to protect yourself so that if you did need to receive urgent support, it would be at a time where there was capacity in the system for you.
Personally, I wouldn’t be wearing a mask, and I think these are more likely to be counterproductive (touch an infected surface... adjust your mask... now your mask is contaminated a remaining right near your nose and mouth). That’s just my opinion though... not official advice.
grovesy
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
Mike I was thinking as we seemed to have had a number of new members over the last few days, all with a similar questions about the virus. I was wondering wether someone from Diabetes UK might think of putting some sort of permanent message on view at the moment.
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
- Pronouns
- He/Him
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
- Pronouns
- He/Him
I found this in another recent covid19 discussion which I thought you might find interesting @Lee2030
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