HealthDay Reports: Why Is Coronavirus a Bigger Worry for People With Diabetes?
See what diabetes experts say you should know about diabetes and your risk of COVID-19.
Why Is Coronavirus a Bigger Worry for People With Diabetes?
MONDAY, April 13, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- If you or someone you love has diabetes, you've probably noticed that diabetes always pops up on lists of people at higher risk from COVID-19 infections. And you've probably wondered why.
The good news is that people with diabetes -- any type -- don't seem to have a greater risk of catching the virus. The bad news is if you do get it and you have diabetes, you have higher odds of having a more serious illness.
"Recent CDC [U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] data indicates that of those diagnosed with COVID-19, only 10% have diabetes, and that's about the prevalence of diabetes in the general U.S. population. But, if you are hospitalized, you may have a more severe course of illness," explained Dr. Robert Eckel, president of medicine and science for the American Diabetes Association.