Dr. Thangudu with Computer

Blood Sugar Control and COVID

Prevention of COVID and COVID-related complications starts in the clinic far before you get sick.

Especially during this time of coronavirus, all adults should know their pre-diabetes or diabetes status and treat high blood sugar aggressively, which can be determined with simple tests such as fasting blood sugar or hemoglogin A1c. It has been shown that a relatively small (0.8%) difference in hemoglobin A1c makes a marked difference in COVID-related outcomes. People with higher A1c had higher rates of in-hospital death and lung, heart and kidney problems with COVID. They are also needed more mechanical ventilation and higher levels of life support.

We see our patients improve their blood sugar within hours to days with appropriate medications and in many patients with diet and lifestyle change alone. Optimizing your diabetes medications, using continuous blood glucose monitoring and engaging in healthful lifestyle are more important than ever to stay healthy in the face of COVID both in and out of the hospital.

Read more about this in my full article onĀ Medpage Today.

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