Risk factor No 1: Poor Glycemic Control
Diabetes mellitus has been listed as the 3rd most prevalent co-morbidity, after cardio‐cerebrovascular disease and hypertension. Diabetes mellitus is a well‐recognized risk factor for all infections. The risk increases multifold with poor glycemic control. HbA1c >9% (glycated hemoglobin) has been shown to be connected with a 60% amplified risk of severe pneumonia. It is also related to a 2 ‐ 3 fold increase in complications.
Risk Factor No 2: Obesity
Obese people with BMI >35 kg/m2 are at nearly 7 fold higher risk of needing intubation and ventilators. A recent study showed a lower BMI threshold of 25 kg/m2 for disease severity hierarchy in the Asian population. In addition, patients with microvascular and macrovascular complications of diabetes mellitus, as well as obstructive sleep apnea, were found to be at considerably more risk of severe infection and mortality.
BOTH THESE MEASURABLE RISK FACTORS CAN BE MITIGATED BY GLYCEMIC CONTROL AND OBESITY REDUCTION
So what can we do globally to decrease these high-risk factors?
Test yourself and your loved ones to see if you are in a high-risk zone
If your HbA1c is below 7 – maintain to low carbohydrate diet, increase your lean protein intake, keep up your physical activities and practice stress relief techniques like pranayama.
If your HbA1c is above 7 – consult your doctor and adjust your medication and lifestyle as per the physician’s advice.HbA1C Range
If you are unable to test your HbA1c, check your blood sugar either through a diagnostic lab or using a glucometer. If your fasting sugars are more than 100mg/dl or your 2 hour postprandial is above 140mg/dl then you need a diabetes specialist’s advice to bring it to normal levels.
If you are obese, check your thyroid, cholesterol and blood pressure too and as per physician advice, embark on a healthy weight loss regimen. Do not resort to any fad diets without consulting your doctor. Keto diets are not healthy and may cause more harm than good. Zero carbohydrate diets can lead to production of ketones that are harmful to patients with diabetes.
Keep a watch over your vitamin D levels – low vitamin D can lower your immunity – simple supplements as prescribed by the doctors after checking your nutrition levels can help.
Take your vaccines. Covid 19 vaccine is of prime importance to help create herd immunity to arrest the spread of the virus. You may also protect yourself against bacterial pneumonia with the pneumococcal vaccine and flu (influenza vaccine) if you have not been vaccinated against them yet. However, please consult with your physician regarding the timing and the gap between such vaccinations.
