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Covid/Coronavirus and diabetes - the numbers

A while ago I was puzzled by the Belgium figures because their reported deaths were so high. I then saw a couple of interviews where it was identified that Belgium was using a far broader definition of which deaths should be included under the 'covid-19' banner - certainly broader than those reported by the UK at that time. It was a good few weeks ago so can't provide a specific link but it was covered a few times.
 

Yes, I have seen the same.
It is one of the reasons that I feel comparisons of national numbers are very misleading.

The following is from an old (2nd May) but still relevant, article explaining.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-52491210

What's different about Belgium?
Belgian officials say they are counting in a way that no other country in the world is currently doing: counting deaths in hospitals and care homes, but including deaths in care homes that are suspected, not confirmed, as Covid-19 cases.

According to Belgium's latest official figures, out of 7,703 deaths, 53% have been in care homes.
Some 16% of deaths in care homes were tested positive for coronavirus. The rest are suspected.

That means more than 3,500 deaths have been counted as caused by Covid-19, but not confirmed.

How do they work it out?
"It's based on the assessment of the medical doctor, usually taking into account whether the coronavirus is present in the same care home," says Prof Van Gucht.

"For example: if you have one or two confirmed cases, then the week after you have 10 deaths in the same home based on similar symptoms."
 
This article may help answer the question I have seen many ask on here, as to the degree to which good blood sugar control lessens the risk for diabetics with covid.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550413120302382
"Summary
Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a major comorbidity of COVID-19. However, the impact of blood glucose (BG) control on the degree of required medical interventions and on mortality in patients with COVID-19 and T2D remains uncertain. Thus, we performed a retrospective, multi-centered study of 7,337 cases of COVID-19 in Hubei Province, China, among which 952 had pre-existing T2D. We found that subjects with T2D required more medical interventions and had a significantly higher mortality (7.8% versus 2.7%; adjusted hazard ratio
, 1.49) and multiple organ injury than the non-diabetic individuals. Further, we found that well-controlled BG (glycemic variability within 3.9 to 10.0 mmol/L) was associated with markedly lower mortality compared to individuals with poorly controlled BG (upper limit of glycemic variability exceeding 10.0 mmol/L) (adjusted HR, 0.14) during hospitalization. These findings provide clinical evidence correlating improved glycemic control with better outcomes in patients with COVID-19 and pre-existing T2D."
 
Thank you for posting this. I felt that good glycemic control should make a difference but good to see that the research confirms it.
 
Hi
me again, I had my assesment for work deemed me moderate risk, work in a emergency control room, advised to stringent social distance which isnt really being done, ive been worrying all the way through , anxiety high got my blood results back yesterday from my latest test over 90 previously i have been 53, 54 ,60 this is the highest i have ever been, since diagnosis, my eating habits not changed and i have been cutting down more and keeping a once a month treat but spoken to my doctor who has upped one of my other tablets to twice a day, and i have to repeat the bloods in 8 weeks. advised stringent social distancing, cant be done where i work they try but too many people, she is giving me a letter not to be off but to advise about the social distancing. I feel so overwhelemed worrying about it all, people are acting like covid is over and it is not.

We have screens in work in front of us but i sit next to someone just about a metre see my first post explaining what i do, not getting much sleep and have a husband at home who is 70 and type 1, anyway going to take this extra tablet and go back in eight weeks but im not calming down, i know i should try but its very hard at the moment.

I have two of the comobilities or what ever you call it sorry if i have it wrong im type 2 high blood pressure but because i lost weight and gone under the bmi of 40 as lost three stone it does not deem me to be mediacally suspended ( should have kept the weight on ) so still working shifts day s and nights and feel drained with the worry. I used to be ok and managed quite well but this covid as really messed me up just worrying about it, I had a antibody test which was negative not sure if it would have been better if it came back positive thanks all
 
Jan if it continues to rise and you’ve only been diagnosed a couple of years I’d ask to have type1/LADA ruled out by testing c peptide and antibodies. Whilst stress can and does cause rises this seems pretty significant.

Can you ask for side screens too? Is a different desk possible? Redeployment to a task more easily distanced?
 

Hi thanks the doctor is going to investigate and like i say wants me to go for another test in 8 weeks i am going to start using my blood monitor moor at the moment as i was told originally type 2 dont need to test, but i will a bit more, i was doing so well its since these last few months with this covid i m so worried and im not sleeping very well, they have not put side screens in and dont think they are doing so cant be a different dest and no other job to be redeployed to as cant home work, the only other option was medical suspension but im not viable apparently.

Ive not heard of Type 1 LADA and no one mentioned that was is that please

thanks Jan
 
It’s a slow onset adult version of type 2. Many that have this are initially misdiagnosed type2. Some drs don’t even know about it!!! If hb1ac continues to rise despite genuine low carb it should always be checked. Type 2 almost always told don’t test because either they can’t afford it or don’t understand why it’s useful for us.


They may not have put side screens in but I’d be asking for them! Just curious if other roles in the control room might allow for better distancing.
 
Hi Thanks for that information ill bear that in mind, sadly there are no other roles it is a large building two rooms no sepearate ones apart from room devider there are open plan so there is no other role, dont know just have to prey i dont get it thank you for your reply
 
Could you make yourself portable side screens out of say, a lightweight wooden frame like a picture frame with polythene stretched over it like the glass in a picture frame. And wooden blocks for feet?
 
So, has anyone else heard the Today programme on Radio 4 just now about the number of postal tests that didn't get processed because they were sent out but never came back. According to the person (again from the More or Less team) two thirds of the postal tests which the Government has been counting in their stats have never taken place.

I guess the positive is that the Government has at last acknowledged this.
 
Maybe this makes stats misleading but how is it anyone’s fault other than the person who doesn’t return the test that it doesn’t get done. They have the option to test and choose not to take it.
 
That I/we are being misled about the data by the Government is my issue. It's taken to now for the Government to acknowledge the problems with the postal testing service, As far as I'm aware they still haven't identified the number of people tested rather than just the number of tests completed.
It's not just about wanting a Government that is open and transparent (which I do). For me it's also practical. I need to work out my next steps in getting through this pandemic. Knowing and understanding the data on estimated numbers of cases in the population, actual number of cases found, how effective track, trace and particularly isolating is working are key bits of information I need to help inform my decisions - the fact that I'm not getting it I lay at the Government's door.
 
Tannith said:
Could you make yourself portable side screens out of say, a lightweight wooden frame like a picture frame with polythene stretched over it like the glass in a picture frame. And wooden blocks for feet?
Click to expand...

Tannith, when I worked in a "proper office" (I have been home based for a long time now), my employer would not have allowed such contraptions, on a health and safety basis - toppling down, injuring people, just as an example.

Many offices and organizations have discretion screens, to either make discreet cubicle arrangements, or in call centres for sound dampening, which could possibly be deployed.

Some will be fabric covered (for aesthetics and sound transmission reduction), so I don't know if they could be shrink wrapped or something (not my specialism!), but I do doubt an employer would allow an employee to rock up with their own contraption, without it being tested and approved.

I can't think any employer would be bold enough to sign off a wooden frame and clingfilm as medically protective, but what do I know these days?.
 
bulkbiker said:
https://www.cebm.net/covid-19/covid-19-mortality-ons-update/

We are now below average deaths for this time of year in England and Wales according to the ONS figures..
Click to expand...
And that is good news that is is not still in excess but let’s not kid ourselves. When looked at over such short periods of time as a week it tells us little. We need longer periods of time to compare averages. 6 months or better a year will be much more reassuring. The massive spike a couple of months ago is hardly balanced out yet! A significant number of those that would have died this week may well have died in the previous few months.
 
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