An American expert has said that at least two in every five people who have died from COVID-19 were suffering from diabetes, making the chronic metabolic condition one of the common comorbidities during the pandemic.
Dr. Robert Gabbay, Chief Scientific and Medical Officer, American Diabetes Association (ADA), said about 40% of U.S. deaths from COVID-19 were among diabetics, a “really quite sobering” finding that should prompt diabetics to get vaccinated, according to Medicine Net.
In an interview with HealthDay Now, Dr. Gabbay said, “I can’t say this strongly enough — if you have diabetes, get vaccinated. Speak to your health care provider; discuss your concerns. With the risk of hospitalization and death related to COVID six to 12 times higher in people with diabetes, it’s time to get vaccinated.”
The study, which was presented at the ADA’s recent online annual meeting, found that diabetes was implicated in up to 40% of COVID-19 deaths.
Scientists at the University of Texas at El Paso conducted the study and found that at least one in 10 people with diabetes who were hospitalized with COVID-19 die within one week.
Dr. Gabbay explained that people with poorly managed diabetes are at greater risk of becoming severely ill or dying from COVID-19. “The pandemic has exposed existing cracks in the U.S. health care system’s ability to help people keep the condition under control,” he added.
The ADA reported that one in five Americans with diabetes say that they had to choose between buying food or buying diabetes medication and supplies during the pandemic.
Dr. Gabbay said, “We identified that a number of individuals had less access to medication than they did prior to the pandemic.”
In the United States, the price of insulin skyrocketed during the pandemic. “Here we are 100 years after the discovery and we’re still challenged by this,” Dr. Gabbay said.
He explained that the ADA is working state-by-state to pass legislation that reduces the cost of insulin.
“We’re continuing to advocate in all the other states to make sure that everybody who needs insulin can get the insulin they need,” Dr. Gabbay said.
Meanwhile, the ADA has been encouraging diabetics to follow a healthy lifestyle and eat healthily.
Dr. Gabbay said, “Access to healthy food is an important issue. In this country, there are food deserts and food swamps where even if you want to do the right thing, the right foods are not available.” The article was published in Medicine Net.
