Diabetes is the 7th leading cause of death here in America and is a cause of concern for health officials. With the pandemic going on, and the fact that underlying conditions make COVID-19 that much more deadly, researchers are interested in how diabetes rates are going to go.
Let's break down how diabetes rates are continuing to rise despite lockdowns and economic hardship.
1. Rates Are Still Going Up Despite Staying Home
When restaurants are closed and grocery store are all that is left open, that usually means eating healthier options. However, this does not seem to be the case and is actually showing one of the main concerns about food deserts.
Food deserts are when an individual does not have access to healthy food options and are stuck picking up “junk food.” These foods are often full of sugar that create elevated blood glucose levels.
Constantly elevating blood glucose over the years leads to a decrease in insulin sensitivity, and thus leads to an increase in Type 2 Diabetes.
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2. Those With Diabetes Are More Likely to Experience Complications From Coronavirus
Because the body is heavily impacted by the constant stress of diabetes, it directly leads to an increase in the risk of complications from COVID-19. The CDC lists Type 2 Diabetes as one of the major illnesses that increase the risk of severe infection.
The liver and pancreas create our enzymes to help breakdown food and the components within it. These two organs also help our body detox and fight off infections. If they are under constant stress from diabetes, then they will have a much harder time fighting off the virus.
3. New Research Shows You May Develop Diabetes After COVID-19
A study published by the New England Journal of Medicine found that the damage that COVID-19 plays on the cells increases the chance of developing diabetes. COVID-19 binds to our cells that specifically target our organs.
The pancreas is responsible for creating our insulin, and if the virus can highjack these cells, then it may increase the chance of developing diabetes. This issue was also noted in the original SARS outbreak that happened in the early 2000s.
While these findings do indicate a higher risk of developing diabetes, it also goes into the damage that can be done with someone that already has the disease.
Diabetes Rates: One of the Greatest Concerns in America
Diabetes rates are only going to go up if we do not take the time to get our eating habits under control. Type 2 Diabetes is one of the only self-managed and reversible diseases out there that we can control ourselves. We can't let this pandemic make this issue even worse.
If you want to learn more about everything medical, be sure to check out our blog that covers a variety of different medical topics. If you know someone that is skeptical about the dangers of diabetes, be sure to share this article with them.
