World Diabetes Day: 90% of Covid fatalities in Kerala were likely diabetic

Thiruvananthapuram: The World Diabetes Day is marked on November 14. This year the dedicated day assumes far greater significance than in the past as around 90 per cent of the people who died due to COVID+-19 across the world had diabetes.

In some states of India, this figure increases to 95 per cent. Though doctors concede that 90 per cent of the deceased in Kerala too were diabetic patients, the government is yet to release the official data.

The country has around 8 crore diabetic patients, as per official figures. Of this, 21 per cent is in Kerala. But only 10 per cent have been able to control diabetes. Others are not undergoing the right treatment regimen. For this reason, the theme for this World Diabetes Day is 'Diabetes: Nurses Make the Difference'.

Apart from medicines, the diabetic patients need to bring in several lifestyle changes. As most people are not able to strictly follow this, the illness cannot be controlled. Hence, it will be prudent to take the help of nurses.

"If diabetic patients get infected by Coronavirus, blood tests should be done at least five times in a day. The blood sugar level will increase in such patients. It cannot be predicted when this will happen," Dr Jyothilal Kesavadev said.

The incidence of Type 1 diabetes, mostly seen among children, is also on the rise in Kerala. Around 4,500 children have diabetes, as per available data. The Type 2 diabetes, mostly seen in people above the age of 25, is now being reported among those aged over 17.

Normally, women, who become diabetic during pregnancy, will not have diabetes after childbirth. Among them, those who do not exercise or are overweight, could be diagnosed with diabetes after five years. About 50 per cent of the women diagnosed with gestational diabetes suffer this predicament.