Uncontrolled diabetes likely to increase Covid-19 severity
KUALA LUMPUR: People with diabetes are more likely to develop a severe form of Covid-19 infection, Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said.
He said uncontrolled diabetes compromises the body's immune system, but otherwise, the risk of contracting a severe Covid-19 infection could be minimised.
“The best strategy against Covid-19 is prevention. Modern medicine has come a long way, as our understanding of the disease advances.
“Besides its negative impact on the quality of life and healthcare cost, diabetes also increases the economic burden of individuals, families and communities and affects national productivity.
“Therefore, good controlled diabetes and limiting its complications must be achieved with a holistic approach and active patients' participation.
“This can be achieved with the support of appropriate diabetes education and lifestyle modification by the healthcare professional as well as pharmacological treatment,” he said at the 6th Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPG) for the Management of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus virtual launch ceremony yesterday.
Dr Noor Hisham said there had been rapid advances in the management of diabetic complications with the use of new technology and findings have changed clinical pathways in the way Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus is managed.
This, he said, is reflected in the sixth edition of the CPC of the Management of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.
“These guidelines also focus on preventing and reducing diabetes-related complications, thereby improving clinical outcomes.
“This CPG will form a valuable resource for healthcare professionals by addressing management issues from primary up to tertiary care levels.
“It is aimed to deliver the best possible care for patients from disease prevention to treatment of complications. In this network age, we should no longer be working in silos and I would like to reaffirm the importance and recognition of a multidisciplinary approach in managing Type 2 diabetes mellitus.
“The integration of care services to emphasise the patient at the very centre of care in the chronic care model will improve patient's motivation and journey living with diabetes,” he said.
Also present at the virtual launch was Malaysian Endocrine and Metabolic Society (MEMS) president Prof Dr Chan Siew Pheng.
On a related matter, Dr Chan said the 2019 National Health and Morbidity Survey found 50 per cent of Malaysians aged between 18 and 29 were diabetic.
“Prevalence of diabetes in the country continues to rise unabated and has reached epidemic proportions. It is worrying to see this trend.
“The frequent co-existence with other well-known comorbidities, for instance, hypertension, dyslipidaemia, being overweight or obese further complicates the situation.
“People with diabetes tend to experience more severe Covid19 infection and have a higher risk of death than non-diabetics.
“The best course of action is to closely manage glucose intake, blood pressure, and cholesterol while taking every precaution to avoid catching the virus,” she said.