it is generally not permanent, she explains.
“These patients may only need insulin or other medications for a short time, and it’s therefore critical that physicians closely follow them to see if and when their conditions improve,” Cromer adds.
COVID-19 patients who were newly diagnosed with diabetes were more likely to be younger, non-white, and uninsured or on Medicaid than those with previously diagnosed diabetes, the study found.
The researchers said that the finding suggests that many of the new cases were pre-existing but undiagnosed diabetes in people with limited access to health care services.
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The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently published similar findings.
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Tips for planning ahead
If you are living with diabetes, it’s extremely important to make a plan for if you get sick. The American Diabetes Association offers the following tips:
- Collect phone numbers of your doctors and health care team, your pharmacy and your insurance provider.
- Compile a list of medications and doses (including vitamins and supplements).
- Gather simple carbs like regular soda, honey, jam, Jell-O, hard candies or popsicles to help keep your blood sugar up if you are at risk for hypoglycemia and too ill to eat.
- Get extra refills on your prescriptions so you do not have to leave the house as often.
- If you can’t get to the pharmacy, find out about having your medications delivered.
- Always have enough insulin, in case you get sick or cannot refill.
- If you are struggling to pay for insulin or know someone who is, the American Diabetes Association® (ADA) has resources to help—visit InsulinHelp.org
- Gather extra supplies like rubbing alcohol and soap to wash your hands.
- Make sure you have glucagon and ketone strips, in case of lows and highs.
- Have enough household items and groceries on hand so that you will be prepared to stay at home, in case you need to quarantine.
