Coronavirus and diabetes

[Sophzzz]

Hi guys! My first ever post, I’ve been diabetic since I was 5, I’m now 25!!! I suffer with anxiety, health anxiety, and anxiety about my diabetes and having a hypo!!!!

I have a question, I’m sorry if anyone’s offended but with my health anxiety I worry about anything and everything!
I’m concerned about this new coronavirus, with being type 1 diabetic for so long and being someone who catches anything and everything I’m in constant worry I’m going to get it and die, anyone else get this? I’m not too sure what to do, I’m now currently getting over a cold, and I feel like I can’t breathe anyway, and anxiety ontop of that just make things 10000x worse, just looking for everyone else’s views on it! Sorry if I’ve offended anyone with this post.

 

[NicoleC1971]

No offense taken here! We are in a vulnerable group for flu in general so I suggest you get your free flu vaccine if you haven't already as you are more likely to get flu than coronavirus (another type of cold virus btw) unless you live in China.
As far as I understand it the virus is less infectious than the common cold and you'd need to be face to face with someone coughing on you to get it.
I am so sorry for all those poor people who were exposed unnecessarily and have caught it and are in the middle of the epidemic but the mortality rate isn't high other than for the elderly and people who are ill because of something else such as badly controlled diabetes.

IN the meantime having good bgs, eating and sleeping well should improve your immune system so that if you happen to pick up a bug you can easily fight it off!
Personally I am more worried about what will happen if the Chinese economy tanks and we catch that particular bug...

 

[Deleted member 308541]

I’m concerned about this new coronavirus, with being type 1 diabetic for so long and being someone who catches anything and everything I’m in constant worry I’m going to get it and die, anyone else get this? I’m not too sure what to do,

Wear a P2 face mask for starters when you go out.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Disposable-valved-activated-carbon-nuisance/dp/B01BDMJLXK

Do not go to any of the countries listed here in this article, you cannot go China as it's closed off.

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-51398039

 

[Sophzzz]

Thankyou for your replies so far, yeah I’ve had the flu jab, I think it’s more anxiety that’s taking over, any little pain I get I panic instantly and think there’s something seriously wrong with me! I think this all stems from the misdiagnosis I got with my diabetes when I was 5! No one would take me or my mum seriously and told her I was making it up to stay home, even saw a diabetic nurse who didn’t catch up on it!!! I’m lucky someone found it in the end and that I have a persistent mother. I wish I wasn’t the way I was but hey, there’s only 3 people in the UK so far that have got it, thankfully I’m not in China but I do feel so awful for the people that have got it or died from it!!! Must be terrible, I think it’s more the media when they make a point of saying if you have a underlying health problem or condition such as respiratory problems DIABETES, ect ect, it just sets off alarm bells. Crazy right!!! My mind needs to calm down.

 

[Mike d]

Corona should be OK but this is China .... and the rest of the world has to clean up their mess. Again

 

[TriciaWs]

The main advice so far is the same as for trying to avoid catching flu - don't let people cough in your face, and wash your hands before touching your nose, mouth, eyes, and before eating.
I do voluntary work in a primary school, it is impossible to stop them from touching everything when they have streaming colds, spreading their bugs as widely as possible! So I just try to remember to limit what I touch in my home on the way to a tap and soap.

 

[DCUKMod]

@Sophzzz - I read this, a few days ago, on another forum. The author is a retired UK GP.

There are some interesting points in there, in my view.

 

[josh1334]

I have a holiday booked in March for Tokyo and I wasn't worried until recently.
I find myself reading the news on it daily which most likely isn't helping but I cant help myself!

I'm thinking just wash my hands as much as I can and hope for the best while I'm out there.

 

[Mike d]

Just go and enjoy it.

 

[JohnEGreen]

@josh1334

You could always take some hand disinfectant with you, such as Bioguard Light Duty Disinfectant wipes disinfectants are able to deal with a virus as opposed to hand sterilizers which are only good for bacterial pathogens.

 

[Honeyend]

I have not seen anything yet about what the people have caught it have died from, I am assuming secondry respiratory infections. Diabetics are in the group for the pneumococcal vaccine, so if you are worried I would ask the GP for one if you haven't aready been vaccinated.
https://assets.publishing.service.g...7/GB_Chapter_25_pneumococcal_January_2020.pdf Page 7 At risk groups.

 

[LittleGreyCat]

On the News today they were saying that the Chinese had updated the estimated figures for the number infected and it was 10 times the original estimate.

This means the original calculations for how serious the risk of death is were over stated by 10 times.

So no real reason to worry.

 

[Henryhoggle]

Reading the stats, having a pneumonia injection is a sensible idea if you've not had one of late. If you can, make arrangements to work from home if there's an infection link to your place of work.

 

[Tophat1900]

Wash your hands and dry them with paper towel, don't touch your face while out in public. This is something I do when out in public, not because of corona flu, it's just standard practice for me.

 

[brokencat]

I know I might be a bit late to reply, but you should seek help regarding your anxieties.

Stress can be especially detrimental to those with autoimmune diseases - like type 1 diabetes. It sounds like all these fears related to your health are causing you severe stress.

It might help you to seek specialist help and therapy to try and deal with anxiety first and foremost.

 

[JohnEGreen]

Wash your hands and dry them with paper towel, don't touch your face while out in public. This is something I do when out in public, not because of corona flu, it's just standard practice for me.

And as far as protecting from an airborne virus is useless.

Unless you also hold your breath and don't touch anything at all while out and about that is.

 

[lindisfel]

And as far as protecting from an airborne virus is useless.

Unless you also hold your breath and don't touch anything at all while out and about that is.

I agree, John, and he's got the nation doing the happy birth incantation.
I much prefer, Mary had a little lamb......
regards
Derek

 

[KK123]

Wash your hands and dry them with paper towel, don't touch your face while out in public. This is something I do when out in public, not because of corona flu, it's just standard practice for me.

Don't touch your face in public?...ah, there speaks a man.....

 

[Member496333]

Worth mentioning that, from memory, @Tophat1900 takes immunosuppressive drugs due to an organ transplant. If this is the case then he probably needs to be a bit more vigilant than most when it comes to potential infections.

 

[Andy-Annom]

Because this could/will be a pandemic taking care of ones self is very important.
First, take advice from the health organisation from the country where you live.
Second, think about the POSSIBLE health implications to you.
Third, do a Pro's and Con's about not going on the holiday.

At the moment I am only worried that it does not hit countries like India where millions will be infected. As they have said so far 95% of people either show no signs of the virus or do not even know they have it, and only 5% of people actually feel the effects of the virus to any extent beyond the feelings of the common flu.

I would also point out this, more people die each year from the flu than this virus, however if it does become a pandemic that would be a time to be worried.

Go enjoy your trip, have fun and take all steps to keep your health safe. I am not worried about this virus and I am type 2 diabetic, listed at doctors as type 3, I have asthma and I would be happy to work / volunteer around people with this virus. That is how much I worry about catching this virus, take measures to protect yourself and do what you think is right.