For Type 2 Diabetes patients, there is increased risk to exposure to COVID. This in part, is my personal Journey to a better quality of life living with diabetes. Something at Damndiabetes.ca we want all diabetics to have the best opportunity to experience.
Introduction
First came COVID, then my diagnosis of Type 2 Diabetes, and then being hit with COVID. Let me explain. For the past 3 years, plus or minus, my wife has been vociferous about masking, disinfecting hands and anything that came into our house. For the past 3 years, through the real tough and “COVID dangerous times,” she kept me safe. She earned the title of the “spray bottle lady,” always having her bottle of disinfectant ready. Who can argue with success?
We never argued about masks, hand washing, the 1.6 meter spacing; we did not care to listen to the pros and cons; it was our personal choice and why argue with my wife about something that she saw as critical to my better health. Not a hill I wanted to die on.
Happy wife, happy life and she has always had one objective; “to keep me safe.” And she did a damn good job at it too.
Please note; This is an interest piece that has not been medically reviewed. Although not medically reviewed, from Damndiabetes.ca, we provide thoughts on this issue supported by our personal experiences and principles of Expert and Authoritative review and Trust (EAT).
COVID Reared its Ugly Head
More aptly, I did a couple of stupid things that exposed me to COVID. I only have myself to blame.
Two things my wife was on be about as cardinal rules were:
Washing my hands and using disinfectant.
Keeping my hands away from my face.
I was asked to help a friend at his office for 5 days. Guess what? I did not follow my wife’s cardinal rules. The sixth day I became sick and tested positive for COVID.
Diabetes and COVID
The ongoing potential exposure to COVID-19 has underscored the importance of Type 2 diabetes prevention and diabetes management. It is all about keeping the body safe and strong and as much as possible, eliminating negative impacts of Type 2 diabetes.
We all know that Type 2 diabetes can put exceptional stresses on the body, from affecting the immune system, to increasing risk to heart, kidney disease, and other parts of the body. Without an appropriate diabetes treatment plan to manage and lower blood glucose levels, a person’s personal health is put at greater risk. And being exposed to COVID is just one thing to add to the list.
What Did I Experience?
It began with a little congestion, which increased to a mild cough. Two days later, came the achy-breaky body and complete loss of energy. The symptoms were flu-like, which the lead of my health-care team suggested, before COVID, we all got the flu and got better after 7 – 10 days. She said that most COVID attacks now were similar to getting the flu and should go away in 7 – 10 days.
She did caution that as a person with Type 2 diabetes, I must watch the symptoms carefully. But not having trouble breathing, no chest pains, and no temperature I was not at any increased risk. I was a “lucky one” that was experiencing a “mild form” of COVID and possibly because I had completed my fourth injection 6 months ago. I do not know the exact science on that; however, I did take the fourth shot and know what I am now facing. Who can suggest anything different about the value of the fourth shot, that is a personal decision to make with your health care team.
I am now in my fourth day following testing and starting to “feel human again.” Thanks to my professional caregiver team for putting my concerns to rest and to my wife for her herculean efforts to make be better. The sad part, is she has now contacted COVID from me and now my turn to look after her.
Conclusion
With diabetes, we are bombarded with information, some of it complex, some of it too technical and sometimes practical. It is often hard to sort the “wheat from the chaff.” With COVID, masking, disinfection, social distancing, being in large crowds, isolation, and the list goes on are all part of the push and pull as politics got thrown into the mix.
It all came down to who do I listen to? No question; “My wife.” There is no one who has more at stake than me when it comes to living a better quality of life living with diabetes. If she wanted me to wear a mask, I wore a mask – most of the time. Why would I argue with her on the added side of caution? And if I was so opposed to something which was pushing my limits for personal choice, then that was my decision.
Bottom line; with diabetes and COVID, my sage advice? If you may have COVID, take the antigen test. If positive, discuss your symptoms with your healthcare team, and listen to their and your partner’s advice. They all have one goal in mind, to help you with a better quality of life living with diabetes.
If you need any help sorting the wheat from the chaff, give us a call at Damndiabetes.ca
Wayne Drury was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes more than one year. He quickly discovered there was scant diabetes information providing a roadmap to a better quality of life living with diabetes.
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