If you are suffering from diabetes, then better ensure that you do not fall to the Covid-19. If god forbid you are infected with the virus, then be ready for debilitating fatigue, as has been found by a team of researchers.
They noted that type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients who had Covid-19 showed significantly more fatigue when compared with those who did not have the infection.
And those with high fatigue are likely to have higher inflammatory markers during the course of the infection as well as increased blood sugar levels afterwards. They also experience lower handgrip strength, according to thr study by researchers from Fortis C-Doc in collaboration with the All India Institute of Medical Sciences and Diabetes Foundation.
This is a first of its kind study globally published in journal, Diabetes & Metabolic Syndrome: Clinical Research & Reviews.
“Fatigue is a predominant and very debilitating factor, present afterwards in both hospitalized and non-hospitalised Covid patients. Fatigue and associated symptoms decrease quality of life and interfere with normal working capacity. The study shows diabetes complicates the course of Covid-19 and influences long Covid-19,” said Dr Anoop Misra, director of diabetes and endocrinology, Fortis C-DOC who led the study.
The study objective was to assess the prevalence of fatigue and handgrip strength (as a surrogate marker for sarcopenia or muscle mass and power) in patients with Type 2 diabetes after Covid-19 infection, and to compare them against patients with diabetes without a history of Covid-19. The sample size assessed was 108 type 2 diabetes patients.
“In addition, diabetes poses challenges in the recovery of patients. It is imperative, therefore, for chronic diabetic patients to follow a healthy lifestyle, adhere to treatment guidelines and go for regular health checks.”
Those with high fatigue score of more than four are likely to experience the symptoms and hence their recovery and rehabilitation will need careful attention to nutrition.