It has been shown early on that the presence of obesity, diabetes or other metabolic problems increases the risk for COVID-19, while negatively affecting the outcome of the disease. Specifically, it is estimated that up to 50% of people who die from COVID-19 worldwide have metabolic and / or vascular disorders.
In an article recently published in the prestigious international scientific journal Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol, expert scientists detail the relevant epidemiological and pathophysiological correlations and provide clinical guidance.
The Doctors of the Therapeutic Clinic of the Medical School of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Lina Paschou (Assistant Professor of Endocrinology), Theodora Psaltopoulou (Professor of Therapeutic-Preventive Medicine) and Thanos Dimopoulos (Professor of EPology) for patients with metabolic diseases during the COVID-19 pandemic:
- Awareness of the need for vaccination and encouragement for everyone to participate in the process
- Encouragement to limit social contact to reduce the risk of infection
- Encouragement to follow a healthy lifestyle with a balanced diet and exercise, especially during long stays at home
- Good hydration with regular intake of water or other liquids
- Walking 30 minutes a day, if there is no contraindication
- Consistency in taking the right medication
- Weighing on a weekly basis
- Measurement of steps per day
- Glucose self-monitoring in some patients with diabetes, at a frequency determined by the treating physician
- Specific glucose targets, avoiding hypoglycemia but also high glucose values
- Blood pressure measurement on a daily basis
- Use of telemedicine, ie contact of patients with health workers through a virtual connection
- Encouragement to use stress management tools, often digital
- Intensify foot care, especially in patients with diabetes
- Monitoring of urinary excretion and the appearance of possible edema
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