Top Diabetologist Answers How People With Diabetes Can Protect Themselves Against Omicron

It has hardly been a month since we first heard about Omicron, the variant has already been found in many countries worldwide. The heavily mutated variant of concern is associated with the most dramatic spike in cases that we have ever seen. 

And after the tragic second wave, it can be pretty disturbing to live with the ambiguity regarding this latest variant of COVID-19, especially if you are a person with diabetes. 

To get answers to your questions about this new variant, Team Diabefly  (A Diabetes Care Program) spoke to a renowned expert — Dr. Suresh Ade, a Diabetologist, Internal Medicine, and Neurologist in Navi Mumbai, who has experience of more than two decades in these fields. He practices at multiple hospitals at Navi Mumbai, including Apollo hospitals and Ayush Diabetes & Neurology clinic. 

Here are answers to the 5 FAQs:

1. Team Diabefly: Even after double vaccination, is a person with diabetes highly prone to get infected with the Omicron variant? What about the risk of complications for these people?
   
   Dr. Ade: Yes, compared to a healthy person, a person with diabetes is more prone to get infected with the Omicron variant because of low immunity. But as I see the data of several countries and the recovery rate of patients with diabetes, the mortality rate is not very high.
   
   Additionally, the complications are not very severe, and most of the patients have developed mild infections. Double vaccination has protected patients from developing severe infections.
   
   However, one cannot rule out the possibility of severe infections or complications in patients with diabetes. This is because diabetes is frequently associated with other comorbid conditions such as hypertension, heart problems, high cholesterol, obesity, and kidney disease.
2. Team Diabefly: If a person with diabetes is not double vaccinated against COVID-19, what is their risk for infection and complications?
   
   Dr. Ade: If a person with diabetes is not double vaccinated against COVID-19, even if we talk in context to the new variant, Omicron, the chances of developing severe complications are high.
   
   As I see the worldwide data, I see mild symptoms in normal individuals infected with the Omicron variant, but still, there have been some mortalities. However, the severity of infection has reduced compared to the delta strain that had caused severe complications and even death during the second wave. This is mainly because of double vaccination.
   
   As a rule, we need to understand that no vaccination offers 100% protection. It just gives us 70% protection because the virus is undergoing mutation continuously. Nevertheless, vaccination reduces the severity of the disease to a large extent. Studies are currently not available on how this new variant will affect the patients with diabetes who have not received their double dose of vaccination or those who have got just a single dose of vaccination.
3. Team Diabefly: Like the delta variant that caused the second wave, can Omicron also cause more severe illness to a person with diabetes than a healthy individual? Though, unlike the second wave, most of us are double-vaccinated now.
   
   Dr. Ade: As 70-80% of patients are double vaccinated now, patients with diabetes will not develop a severe illness with this new variant. Additionally, unlike the Delta strain that caused the deadly second wave, the Omicron variant has caused a milder infection.
   
   In my clinical practice, none of the patients with diabetes have required the ICU (Intensive Care Unit) care, CT scan score has been mild to moderate, and I am seeing a faster recovery rate. This is because of double vaccination in high-risk patients like those with diabetes.
4. Team Diabefly: Apart from vaccinations and following social distancing protocols, how can people with diabetes protect themselves against this new variant?
   
   Dr. Ade: These are the few things patients with diabetes should follow to prevent COVID-related severe complications and also to safeguard themselves from contracting the new Omicron variant:
   1. Follow COVID-appropriate behavior that includes using masks, following social distancing, and standard hand hygiene protocol.
   2. Maintain their blood sugar levels within the targeted range with fasting blood sugars between 100-125 mg/dL and post-meal blood sugars less than 200 mg/dL.
   3. Do any form of exercise like yoga, cardio, strength training, running, etc.
   4. Eat a healthy and well-balanced diet.
   5. Monitor their oxygen levels.
   6. Follow-up with their clinician routinely, either in-clinic or online.
5. Team Diabefly: What are your thoughts on the booster dose? Should people with diabetes get the booster dose as soon as they are eligible for it?
   
   Dr. Ade: Yes, high-risk patients like those with diabetes should be given the booster dose as early as possible. Studies have found that if patients are injected with the booster dose, their antibodies level rises, which further prevents complications from the new variant.
   
   According to the AstraZeneca study, patients were either asymptomatic or developed a very mild disease when a booster dose was given to them. Hence the booster dose should be given to patients with diabetes on a priority basis.

As coronavirus spreads around the globe, it is mutating. The good news is vaccine-elicited immunity has protected you from the severe complications of the Omicron variant. So go to the nearest COVID-vaccine center and get your jab now, if you still haven’t. 

At the same time, please ensure that you keep your blood sugars in a healthy range to protect yourself from the continuously mutating strains of COVID-19. Finally, to manage diabetes effectively, it would be best to complement your doctor’s prescription with a digital therapeutic like Diabefly. 

Team Diabely consists of 3 expert Coaches – a Nutritionist, a Physiotherapist, and a Psychologist to guide you about proper nutrition, exercise routine, stress management, and more. Let’s fight this pandemic together with Diabefly!

To know more about how Diabefly can help you achieve your blood sugar goals for a stress-free life, visit www.fitterfly.com/diabefly or call us at +91 2248971077 (Ext 1).