Coronavirus and T1D: What You Need to Know and How to Prepare was prepared by Sara Seitz for InsulinNation.com, 4 March 2020.
As with most contagious illnesses, having an autoimmune disease such as type 1 diabetes does likely increase your risk of falling ill due to the new coronavirus. But just how much that risk is increased and if it also increases your risk of death is hard to say at this point. Healthy people without preexisting conditions appear to succumb to COVID-19 at a rate of less than 1%, while those with cardiovascular disease have the highest rate of death, outside of the elderly, at 10.5%. Diabetics are reported to succumb to the disease at a rate of about 7.3%, but that number is most likely reflective of the rate of death in type 2 diabetics and not specific to those with T1D.
People living with diabetes and other preexisting conditions can best prepare for the quick-spreading COVID-19 virus by doing these things:
- Wash your hands frequently, especially before and after you enter a public space.
- Use hand sanitizer when soap and water are not available.
- Don’t touch your mouth, nose, or eyes, especially while in public.
- Clean commonly touched surfaces frequently with soap and water or cleaning products.
- Keep your blood sugars in range and pay extra attention to your diabetes management to keep your body strong.
- The CDC and WHO do not recommend the use of facemasks for people who are not currently sick as these are unlikely to offer much protection and should be reserved for infected patients to prevent further spread of the disease.
Read more: Coronavirus and T1D: What You Need to Know and How to Prepare
An Oral Insulin Capsule That May Soon Be On The Market was reported by Carrie Rubinstein for Forbes.com, 27 February 2020.
Oramed Pharmaceuticals Inc., a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company focused on the development of oral drug delivery systems, just announced unprecedented topline data from the second and final cohort of its Phase 2b trial evaluating the efficacy and safety, at lower dose regimens, of its lead oral insulin capsule, ORMD-0801. While many huge corporations have spent millions of dollars trying to create an oral insulin pill, none have succeeded so far. This new development, which signals the first commercial oral insulin capsule for the treatment of type 2 and type 1 diabetes, might be the game-changer that revolutionizes the treatment of diabetes.
Established in 2006, with offices in New York and Israel, Oramed has developed a Protein Oral Delivery technology that is based on more than 30 years of research by scientists at Jerusalem’s Hadassah Medical Center.
8 Truths About Diabetes Medical Alert Bracelets was reported by Ginger Vieira for DiabetesMine.com, 1 March 2020.
- EMTs are trained to first assess your airway, breath, and pulse — and then quickly look for other important signs. “If you’re unconscious and there isn’t anyone to give a history, we look for a bracelet immediately after the ‘ABCs’ — airway, breathing, circulation,” explains Andrea Saric-Hayes, a licensed EMT (emergency medical technician) in the state of Vermont. But she says it depends on the level of trauma. “I would tend to look first for serious bleeding or a spinal issue before looking for medical alert jewelry.”
- EMTs will likely notice anything on your wrist first. Other locations could go unnoticed until much later. “I’ll notice someone’s medical alert bracelet when I’m checking their pulse,” explains Saric-Hayes, “But necklaces are harder, regardless of how decorated they are, because we don’t check the chest area unless there is trauma or need to palpate.”
- Tattoos can be effective, as long as they are easy to read and in the right location. Ed Waite, licensed EMT in Vermont, says that he would definitely notice a medical alert tattoo as a seasoned EMT, but newer EMTs may not identify them as quickly.
- Even a detailed design can work, as long as it’s easy for EMTs to read the “type 1 diabetes” text. Remember, the original goal of its design truly is: to inform people that you have type 1 diabetes when you cannot.
Some unique ID bracelets:
- Lauren’s Hope Medical ID Jewelry
- BAIYI adjustable silicone bracelets (unisex)
- Road ID
- Divoti custom engraved slip-on bracelets (women)
- IPCROMY personalized braid ID bracelets (men)
- My Identity Doctor sports medical ID bracelets (men and women)
- Linnalove cartoon medical alert ID bracelets (children)
- EPIC-ID™ Emergency ID Bracelet
- MedicAlert Medical IDs
Read all 8 truths: 8 Truths About Diabetes Medical Alert Bracelets
Diabetes in OA: Pain Is Worse was written by Nancy Walsh for MedPageToday.com, 3 March 2020.
Among patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA), pain was greater for those with coexisting diabetes mellitus (DM), and this association was independent of obesity and radiographic severity, European researchers found.
Pain intensity has been reported to be greater in OA patients who have DM, possibly because of increased systemic and local inflammation, microvascular changes, and pain sensitization alterations. Moreover, hyperglycemia may have adverse influences including mitochondrial dysfunction, hypoxia, and release of reactive oxygen specials in peripheral tissues, potentially contributing to abnormal nociception and peripheral neuropathy.
Read more: Diabetes in OA: Pain Is Worse
