By Ma. Teresa Montemayor | Philippine News Agency
MANILA – Persons with diabetes who received booster shots are less likely to get hospitalized due to COVID-19, a health expert said on Thursday (March 31).
In a public briefing, Philippine Society of Endocrinology Diabetes and Metabolism member Dr. Carol Montano said the number of patients with diabetes who were hospitalized because of COVID-19 had gone down, both locally and abroad, since the administration of booster shots started.
Citing studies of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Diabetes Association, Montano said booster shots provide an extra layer of protection against the virus for individuals suffering from diabetes.
“‘Di po naging enough ‘yung full dose eh, marami sa mga may sakit na diabetes, after four months nagkaroon po sila ulit nung either new variant na COVID-19,” she added.
Different hospitals, locally and abroad, have observed that the number of individuals with diabetes have increased during the pandemic compared to previous years.
It was also observed that people who survived COVID-19 are more prone to have diabetes, Montano said.
“Mayroon po tayong tinatawag na new onset diabetes dahil sa pagkakaroon ng COVID. Nakita po ito sa isang meta analysis na ‘yung 18 years old and above nakakita po tayo ng pagtaas sa pagdami ng kaso,” she added.
One factor would be most patients already have high blood sugar levels prior to COVID-19 infection without them knowing it.
“Nakikita natin last year and this year na ‘yung mga 140 and above diabetic na pala for 6 months or 3 months dahil sa pagmo-monitor natin sa blood sugar the more nade-detect natin na marami na palang pre-diabetic,” Montano said.
Since diabetes remains even after a person recovers from COVID-19, Montano encouraged people who have the disease to monitor their blood sugar levels even if they are fully vaccinated and boosted.
There are other complications apart from COVID-19 that they can get if blood sugar levels are not monitored, she said. (PNA)-ngs
