10 tips for confinement by coronavirus with diabetes

If we regularly have to maintain good control of diabetes and the activity we do, being confined by the Coronavirus (Covid-19) we still have to do more to stay healthy, here you can read a list of 10 tips:

1) Physical activity:

Objective, 1 hour a day
Move at home.Any activity is better than any.Even light intensity activity can compensate for the health risks of sedentary lifestyle.

It is advised that the person with diabetes perform at least 300 minutes of aerobic exercise a week distributed in 5-7 days.

The best way is to accumulate sessions of minimum 10 minutes to an intensity that increases the rhythm of breathing, but without gasping or noticing in a drowning situation, which would be indicating that the rhythm is excessive.

Examples of aerobic exercises are static cardiovascular machines (bicycle, rowing, elliptical etc), Latin dance classes, aerobic, ... and circuit training sessions available on many specialized pages in fitness.People who present peripheral neuropathy should avoid exercises that may cause trauma or feet ulcers.

2) Promote muscle mass

Together with its locomotive function, skeletal muscle plays a fundamental role in diabetes, since it is the main tissue that uses glucose as a source of energy.

Thus, the person with diabetes must maintain and enhance their muscle mass through strength training.

It is advisable to strengthen the main muscle groups, 2-3 days a week that are not consecutive.

In general, it is recommended to start by performing 1-2 series of 8 to 12 repetitions with loads that can be easily lifted (such as milk briks);2-3 series of 8 to 10 repetitions must be progressed and not exceeding 4-6 repetitions per series with higher weights (such as large water jacks);The rest time between series should be between 1-2 minutes.

3) Exercising the body benefits the mind

Physical activity is related to a better sleep, memory, balance and cognitive capacity;In addition, it is associated with a lower risk of weight gain, dementia and depression.It is one of the most important things that the person with diabetes can do for their health and well -being.

4) Food

• Avoid compulsive purchases in supermarkets and especially avoid nutritionally little advisable foods
• Plan and make only a weekly purchase
• Although food is not a virus transmission route, WHO recommends maintaining good kitchen hygiene
• Do not buy or start consuming nutritional supplements without the recommendation of a dietitian-nutritionist or a doctor
• Infusions or teas can be useful in cases of dehydration
• Ensure proper daily protein consumption based on good quality food, avoiding red meat and sausage and maximizing the consumption of plant origin protein
• Adjust nutritional intake to the home confinement situation (with less energy expenditure).To do this, it is crucial to limit the consumption of very caloric food and avoid pecking
• If an extra intake of carbohydrates is performed, it will be necessary to readjust the insulin dose calculations in people who use it

5) Pediatric age diabetes

The serious forms of coronavirus infection are very uncommon in pediatric age;However, children can be an important transmission belt of coronavirus infection, being many of them asymptomatic.

According to specialists, children and adolescents with well -controlled diabetes do not seem more risk to infection byCoronavirus.

Diabetes control standards are usual;In case of coronavirus disease, apply the “disease day” advice with frequent blood glucose controls and ketone bodies

6) Diabetes does not increase the risk of contracting infection

The risk that a person with diabetes has to contract the infection caused by COVID-19 is the same as that of the general population, although if the infection is contracted its severity and evolution may be different, according to age, degree of control of control ofDiabetes, presence of chronic complications or other pathologies.

7) More information, the best prevention

Follow the recommendations to prevent the spread of this infection (effective and frequent hand washing, coughing with a paper handkerchief that will be discarded or use the elbow, maintain a distance 1.5-2 meters between people,) and forFollow confinement and isolation if indicated.

It is essential to know the alarm signs (fever, dry cough, muscle aches, drowning sensation), as well as when and where to contact the health care team.Be sure to find information in valid and hired sources.It is important to avoid overinformation or false news.

8) What should not be missing at home: medication and control devices

Have all the material related to diabetes care available, from medications and its recipe, to the glucose meter, glucose and ketone reactive strips, and the contact phones of the medical equipment, the pharmacy, the Primary Care Center andMedical emergencies ...

9) Strict glucose control is key

Increase the frequency of glucose controls and, if applicable, that of ketone bodies (if the value of glucose is greater than 250mg/dl 2 times).Extreme alert and know well the decompensation alarm signs (high glucose values, positive ketone bodies, thirst, desire to urinate ...), as well as the performance to be performed in these cases and where to contact the health care equipment if it isPrecise (common recommendations against any infection)

But in case of coronavirus infection:
It may be necessary to adjust the medication
It is essential to maintain adequate hydration
Do not suspend insulin treatment, especially if you have type 1 diabetes.
If it has high glucose figures, it may be necessary to administer extra dose of insulin, and the measurement of ketone bodies
If you are taking drugs of the ISGLT2 or "glucosuric" type, you must suspend them
If you have glucose levels and repeatedly high ketone bodies, contact your team of health professionals

10) Psychological implications

It should be adjusted the intensity of fear, since this allows adequate measures;An excess of fear, in addition to making suffer, leads to make little accurate decisions.

Organizing the day including self -care and others for physical and intellectual development generates security.

Comaging solo activities with others of social/family mood.
Avoid abandoning to discouragement and think that it is a temporary situation from which you can be strengthened

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