If you have diabetes, you have to be a little more careful about the COVID virus, right? That's true. But have you heard of the condition called 'Long COVID', which lasts for weeks or months after you recover from COVID? You may also be suffering from this condition. Today, we'll talk simply and politely about how this affects people with diabetes, and the questions that many people have about whether COVID can cause new diabetes.
First, let's see, what is this 'Long COVID'?
Simply put, we call 'long Covid' the symptoms that persist for weeks or months after a Covid infection, that is, after the virus has been cleared from the body. In medical terms, this is also called ``Post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection`` or ``PASC``. This condition occurs in a significant number of people who have Covid. There is also an opinion that it may be more common among people with diabetes. But the good news is that for most people, these symptoms gradually decrease over time.
Let's take a look at the symptoms of Long Covid. These can vary from person to person.
| Symptom category | Symptoms that may include |
|---|---|
| Common features | • Constant feeling of extreme fatigue and exhaustion. • Symptoms worsen after minor physical or mental exertion. • Occasional fever. |
| Characteristics of the respiratory system | • Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath. • Persistent cough. |
| Nervous system and mental symptoms | • Headache. • Insomnia or sleep problems. • Feeling like your brain is foggy (brain fog), not being able to think clearly, and having difficulty concentrating. • Dizziness when getting up from a sitting position. • Numbness in the limbs. • Loss of smell or taste. • Depression or anxiety. |
| Other features | • Joint and muscle pain. • Chest pain, feeling like your heart is beating fast. • Digestive system problems such as stomach pain and diarrhea. • Changes in women's menstrual cycles. • Skin rashes. • Blood clotting problems (e.g., a blood clot traveling to the lungs - Pulmonary Embolism). |
Treating these symptoms in someone with diabetes can sometimes be a bit more complicated. For example, muscle weakness caused by COVID can take longer to resolve because it is already a problem with diabetes.
What is the connection between diabetes, Covid, and Long Covid?
This is a very important question. If you have diabetes, you are at higher risk of serious complications if you get COVID. This risk is especially high if your diabetes is uncontrolled .
Think of it like a fortress. If diabetes is not controlled, the walls of that fortress are a little weak. Then an enemy like Covid can enter and do more damage. When diabetes is not controlled, the organs of the body, especially the small blood vessels (microvascular), may be damaged. This damage can be even worse with Covid infection.
However, if your diabetes is well controlled, the risk is much lower. Therefore, it is very important to follow your doctor's instructions and control your blood sugar levels well.
Another thing that research shows is that some people can have long-term blood sugar problems even after they recover from COVID. Some people, even those who did not have diabetes when they contracted COVID, have experienced elevated blood sugar levels, a condition called ``Hyperglycemia,'' after they leave the hospital.
Can Covid infection cause diabetes?
This is also a question that many people ask. It has not yet been definitively proven that the Covid virus directly causes diabetes. However, research has suggested that there is a link between the two.
- One study found that people who had COVID (even mild cases) were at a higher risk of developing diabetes within the next year than those who did not. Most of the newly diagnosed diabetics had Type 2 Diabetes.
- But there were some limitations to these studies. For example, some of the studies were conducted on people who already had risk factors for diabetes, such as obesity and high blood pressure. So it's hard to say for sure whether COVID caused diabetes.
- Some other doctors believe that some people who were newly diagnosed with diabetes when hospitalized due to Covid may have had undiagnosed diabetes before.
Regarding Type 1 Diabetes, some studies suggest that there is an increase in the number of cases of Type 1 Diabetes after COVID infection, especially among children, when compared to other respiratory infections. However, there is no firm conclusion on this yet.
For this reason, doctors are saying that people who have recovered from COVID, especially those with risk factors, should be vigilant about their health, especially symptoms of diabetes.
How does Long Covid affect someone with diabetes?
There isn't a lot of research yet on the specific way that Long Covid affects people with diabetes. But based on the current data, there are a few things to keep in mind.
1. POTS: This is a condition where the heart rate suddenly increases when you stand up from a sitting position or when you stand up. This is called `(Postural Tachycardia Syndrome - POTS)`. This condition can also occur in people with diabetes. This condition is seen more often with long Covid.
2. Muscle weakness: Muscle weakness can occur, which can lead to extreme fatigue and even difficulty walking. This can take longer to heal in people with diabetes.
3. Small blood vessel complications: Diabetes can cause damage to the small blood vessels (microvascular) in the eyes, kidneys, and nerves. There is a suspicion that long-term COVID-19 may increase this risk.
Therefore, if you have diabetes and develop the aforementioned long-term COVID symptoms (especially extreme fatigue, shortness of breath, and changes in heart rate) after contracting COVID, don't ignore them as normal.
Please see your doctor and discuss this with him. He will examine you, refer you for further tests if necessary, and provide you with the most appropriate treatment and advice.
Take-Home Message
- Long COVID is a set of symptoms that persist after COVID-19 has passed. People with diabetes may be at slightly higher risk.
- Keeping your diabetes under good control is the best way to protect yourself from severe complications of Covid and long-term Covid.
- If you have persistent fatigue, shortness of breath, or memory problems after contracting COVID, don't ignore them. Talk to your doctor about this.
- Although it is still at the research stage whether Covid causes new diabetes, it is important to be aware of that as well.
- For any health problem, do not rely on guesswork but only see your doctor for the most accurate advice and treatment.
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