Chandigarh: Couple from Sector 30 test positive, both on oxygen support at ICU

Diabetes patients susceptible to Covid-19

It is now globally acknowledged that COVID-19 patients with co-morbidities such as hypertension, diabetes and chronic respiratory diseases have chances of a more severe infection and manifestation of symptoms upon contracting the disease. Anecdotal evidence and studies have also suggested that most patients who died due to the disease had these co-morbidities.

“There have been many studies showing the link between COVID mortalities and a history of diabetes. Some studies also showcased that most people who need intensive care after contracting the virus also had diabetes or were hypertensive,” says an endocrinologist from the city. “This is because poor glycemic control can hamper one’s immune response. This causes an increase in the viral load, and effectively this often translates into extreme respiratory distress,” the doctor adds.

Dr Yashpaul Sharma, head of the department of cardiology at PGIMER, also stated that patients with co-morbidities such as diabetes, hypertension and cancer have a high risk of mortality upon contracting the disease as compared to patients who do not have such underlying diseases. Citing a review which was published in the International Journal of Infectious Disease, the doctor stated that the mortality rate in COVID-19 patients with diabetes is 9.2 per cent, much higher than the average mortality rate in COVID-19 patients across the globe.

Treatment for patients in ICU

Currently, only the couple from Sector 30 are admitted to the ICU at PGIMER. Previously, another patient with a history of diabetes and hypertension, the 40-year-old PU professor, was admitted to the ICU with respiratory distress and was on oxygen support. He has since recovered and shifted to the general ward, but medical staff from the ward claim that the treatment procedure remains the same for most of these patients admitted to the ICU.

Along with symptomatic treatment for the respiratory illness in the couple, they are also delivered regular insulin shots, as were administered to the PU professor when he was admitted to the ICU as well.

“The sugar levels in diabetic patients allow for the viral load to increase. That is why they have breathing issues. We can’t let their insulin levels drop, because it will also adversely affect their immunity to the virus,” says a nurse posted at the ICU for COVID-19 patients at PGIMER. Apart from symptomatic treatment and oxygen support, these patients are also administered hydroxychloroquine tablets, which are potentially prophylactic for coronavirus, almost every day.

“It depends on the severity of the symptoms. Those with less severe symptoms might be given a smaller dosage, but almost all patients are given a tablet every day here at PGIMER. The health staff also take it every week,” says the nurse. Since the medicine is known to have adverse effects on heart patients, an ECG test is carried out on patients and medical staff before administering the drug to them.