{"id":14008,"date":"2020-05-06T14:37:26","date_gmt":"2020-05-06T18:37:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/airpurifierspecialist.com\/store\/?p=14008"},"modified":"2020-05-18T01:09:25","modified_gmt":"2020-05-18T05:09:25","slug":"dont-ignore-diabetes-symptoms-because-youre-afraid-of-catching-covid-19-doctors-say","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/airpurifierspecialist.com\/store\/dont-ignore-diabetes-symptoms-because-youre-afraid-of-catching-covid-19-doctors-say\/","title":{"rendered":"Don\u2019t ignore diabetes symptoms because you\u2019re afraid of catching COVID-19, doctors say"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Since the coronavirus<\/a> pandemic began, doctors across Canada have noticed a significant drop in the number of cases of Type 1 diabetes<\/a> presenting at hospitals \u2014 and they worry people\u2019s lives could be at stake.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe haven\u2019t seen a new case of Type 1 diabetes in our population in the last month,\u201d Dr. Elizabeth Cummings<\/a>, head of endocrinology at the IWK Health Centre in Halifax, N.S., told Global News.<\/p>\n

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\u201cWe would normally see between three to six cases a month.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Cummings says she\u2019s spoken with fellow endocrinologists across the country and they\u2019ve all noticed a similar drop in cases.<\/p>\n

READ MORE: Focus on COVID-19 has disrupted funding for regular health research, scientists fear<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Type 1 diabetes occurs when the pancreas doesn\u2019t produce any insulin, a hormone that controls the level of sugar in your blood, according to Diabetes Canada<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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People with Type 1 diabetes need to inject insulin or use an insulin pump to ensure their bodies have enough of it and their blood sugar levels are under control.<\/p>\n

In 2013, nearly 200,000 Canadians \u2014 both children and adults \u2014 were newly diagnosed with diabetes, according to Statistics Canada<\/a>. In 2017<\/a>, 7.3 per cent of Canadians (roughly 2.3 million people) older than 12 reported being diagnosed with either Type 1 or Type 2.<\/p>\n

READ MORE: What does it take to recover from coronavirus? It depends, experts say<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Roughly 10 per cent of people with diabetes have Type 1, insulin-dependent diabetes, according to Diabetes Canada<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur concern there is \u2026 people who are developing diabetes have symptoms that are warning signs, but if they\u2019re not seeking medical attention for those \u2026 they can become very, very sick,\u201d Cummings said.<\/p>\n

The body can briefly fend off the symptoms of Type 1 diabetes, but if left untreated for a significant amount of time, a person can develop diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA).<\/p>\n

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COVID-19 pandemic impacting people living with diabetes<\/span>
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This is when your blood sugar is very high and acidic substances called ketones build up to dangerous levels in your body, according to the Mayo Clinic<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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\u201cThat requires hospitalization and often ICU care,\u201d Cummings said. \u201cIf it\u2019s not recognized, it\u2019s very rare but it could be fatal.\u201d<\/p>\n

[ Sign up for our Health IQ newsletter for the latest coronavirus updates<\/a> ]<\/em><\/p>\n

Dr. Jeremy Gilbert<\/a>, an endocrinologist at Sunnybrook Hospital in Toronto, has seen a similar drop in new cases and he\u2019s also worried about the potential implications.<\/p>\n

READ MORE: Diabetes Canada puts clothing donations on hold amid coronavirus pandemic<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Gilbert believes the drop is largely due to the fact that people with symptoms are not visiting their family doctor, who are typically \u201cthe first to pick it up and then send [the patient] to a specialist,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Both Cummings and Gilbert assume people are trying to avoid healthcare spaces like hospitals and clinics because they\u2019re afraid of catching COVID-19.<\/p>\n

In his work, Gilbert typically sees patients on an \u201coutpatient basis,\u201d and he often relies on regular blood work to inform his assessments.<\/p>\n

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\u201cThe way I assess people is\u2026 I check their blood pressure, I look at their feet, I measure their weight, I review their glucose, and they often have blood work in advance,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow, patients are largely not doing their blood work because they\u2019re scared to have blood work done. That \u2026 is a very real issue.\u201d<\/p>\n

Below, Cummings and Gilbert share what you should know about Type 1 diabetes, how to spot it and when to seek care.<\/p>\n

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Warning signs<\/h3>\n

There are some common symptoms of Type 1 diabetes you should know. When they present together, it\u2019s typically a good idea to see a doctor.<\/p>\n

\u201cEarly warning signs are an increase in thirst \u2026 drinking more than usual and frequently urinating, going to the toilet a lot [at night],\u201d Cummings said.<\/p>\n

If it\u2019s your child, they may wet the bed when they\u2019ve been previously dry at night.<\/p>\n

READ MORE: What are the chances of dying from coronavirus and who is the most at risk?<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cIf it goes on for a while, [you] can have weight loss that\u2019s unexplained,\u201d Cummings said.<\/p>\n

Fatigue and low energy are also common.<\/p>\n

Blurred vision, frequent or recurring infections, cuts and bruises that are slow to heal and tingling or numbness in the hands or feet are also common side effects, according to Diabetes Canada<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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A look at \u2018loopers\u2019 and how they approach diabetes<\/span>
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\u201cIf you\u2019re seeing [these] in your child, your teenager, a young adult [or someone else] in your circle, then those people need to seek medical attention right away,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

If and when you do see a doctor, you should note that you\u2019re worried it could be diabetes.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis will prompt your care provider to do the right test, which is a very simple blood sugar test,\u201d Cummings said.<\/p>\n

Who\u2019s at risk?<\/h3>\n

The particularly dangerous aspect of Type 1 diabetes is it can strike anyone, at any time. You don\u2019t need a family history or particular lifestyle habits to increase your risk of developing the disease.<\/p>\n

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\u201cIt\u2019s most common in children and teenagers, but it can happen in infants, it can happen in adults \u2014 particularly young adults,\u201d Cummings said.<\/p>\n

\u201cNinety per cent of people who are newly diagnosed with diabetes have no one in their close family with it, so it\u2019s often quite a surprise.\u201d<\/p>\n

Going to the hospital<\/h3>\n

It\u2019s crucial to see a doctor if you suspect you or a loved one may have Type 1 diabetes. You don\u2019t want your physician to miss the \u201cwindow of opportunity\u201d to intervene, Gilbert said.<\/p>\n

Both he and Cummings say the hospitals where they work have robust processes to keep patients safe from the spread of COVID-19.<\/p>\n

\u201cThings like \u2026 a minimum of two feet between each chair (if waiting rooms are open) and closed waiting rooms,\u201d Cummings said.<\/p>\n

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Type 1 diabetes and the technology that can save and change lives<\/span>
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At the IWK, people are being screened upon entry and anyone with COVID-19 symptoms are sent to a different area, said Cummings.<\/p>\n

At Sunnybrook, an \u201coutstanding infectious disease control team\u201d has advised physicians on how best to protect non-coronavirus patients while at the hospital.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s been a lot of communication, a lot of transparency, a lot of focus on wellness and a lot of support that\u2019s been put into place,\u201d Gilbert said.<\/p>\n

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Questions about COVID-19? Here are some things you need to know:<\/em><\/p>\n

Health officials caution against all international travel. Returning travellers are legally obligated to self-isolate for 14 days, beginning March 26, in case they develop symptoms and to prevent spreading the virus to others. Some provinces and territories have also implemented additional recommendations or enforcement measures to ensure those returning to the area self-isolate.<\/p>\n

Symptoms<\/a> can include fever, cough and difficulty breathing \u2014 very similar to a cold or flu. Some people can develop a more severe illness. People most at risk of this include older adults and people with severe chronic medical conditions like heart, lung or kidney disease. If you develop symptoms, contact public health authorities<\/a>.<\/p>\n

To prevent the virus from spreading<\/a>, experts recommend frequent handwashing and coughing into your sleeve. They also recommend minimizing contact with others, staying home as much as possible and maintaining a distance of two metres from other people if you go out.<\/p>\n

For full COVID-19 coverage from Global News, click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Meghan.Collie@globalnews.ca<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u00a9 2020 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/article>\n

Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Since the coronavirus pandemic began, doctors across Canada have noticed a significant drop in the number of cases of Type 1 diabetes presenting at hospitals \u2014 and they worry people\u2019s lives could be at stake.\u201cWe haven\u2019t seen a new case of Type 1 diabetes in our population in the last month,\u201d Dr. Elizabeth Cummings, head…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[26],"tags":[120,162,161,157],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/airpurifierspecialist.com\/store\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14008"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/airpurifierspecialist.com\/store\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/airpurifierspecialist.com\/store\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/airpurifierspecialist.com\/store\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/airpurifierspecialist.com\/store\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14008"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/airpurifierspecialist.com\/store\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14008\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15576,"href":"https:\/\/airpurifierspecialist.com\/store\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14008\/revisions\/15576"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/airpurifierspecialist.com\/store\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14008"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/airpurifierspecialist.com\/store\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14008"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/airpurifierspecialist.com\/store\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14008"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}