COVID-19 has become a pandemic that has affected the world since its inception by the World Health Organization (WHO) in early March 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic had a major impact on all countries in the world. The impact is not only for the health sector but also socially and economically due to social restrictions.
Diabetes mellitus is one of the degenerative diseases that is a co-morbid factor for COVID-19. Comorbid factors are factors that can worsen a person's condition when exposed to COVID-19. Therefore, people with diabetes mellitus need to be extra careful when conducting their activities during the pandemic. Here are a few things to note:
- Keep your body in a good condition by taking regular medications and maintaining a good diet.
- Practice physical distancing and work from home by using technology and social media to communicate. Avoid contact with sick people.
- Wash your hands regularly with running water and soap for at least 20 seconds. If this is not possible, use a hand sanitizer that contains 60% alcohol.
- Do not touch your face, nose, eyes, etc. before washing your hands
- Avoid touching frequently touched surfaces in public places such as elevator buttons and doorknobs. Use a tissue if necessary.
- Clean and disinfect your home regularly, especially on frequently touched surfaces, such as doorknobs, light switches, study tables, toilets, faucets, sinks, and cell phones.
- Check your blood sugar regularly at home. Watch for signs of elevated blood sugar such as frequent urination, especially at night, feeling very thirsty, headache, fatigue, and weak.
- Drink plenty of water if not restricted by a doctor.
- If you are sick or if there are signs of elevated blood sugar, see a doctor immediately. Keep a contact number for a doctor or health care facility who can be contacted in an emergency.
- If you show symptoms of fever, cough, runny nose, shortness of breath, or contact with a COVID case, contact the nearest health facility immediately.
Apart from this, there are some basic things we can do to prevent and control diabetes mellitus, such as dietary regulation, physical activity, pharmacological treatment/therapy, and family involvement/role. Check out the following explanation!
- Diet planning
Diet planning should be adjusted to the calorie needs of people with diabetes mellitus and combined with daily physical activities. The planning includes the content, amount, and timing of food intake, which is called the 3J (type, amount, and schedule). The target is that people with diabetes mellitus can have ideal body weight and well-controlled blood sugar levels.
The habit of consuming sweet foods and drinks is one of the risk factors for diabetes mellitus, as illustrated in the 2018 Riskesdas results. The high prevalence of consumption of sugary foods and drinks may contribute to the high incidence of diabetes mellitus.
- Physical activity
Physical activity should be adjusted to the body's ability, performed with a minimum duration of 30 minutes per day or 150 minutes per week at a moderate intensity or about 50-70% of the maximum heart rate. The activity aims to increase the willingness of people with diabetes to engage in regular physical activity so that the ideal body weight is reached and blood sugar levels can be properly controlled.
- Pharmacological treatment/therapy
Pharmacological treatment/therapy should follow the advice of the physician. People with diabetes need to check their blood sugar regularly, at least every six months. The medication and lifestyle of people with diabetes should also be assessed. This assessment is expected to give people with diabetes greater control and control of their disease.
- Family involvement/role
Family involvement in encouraging people with diabetes to adhere to medication, adopt a healthy lifestyle, and make lifestyle changes to be healthier is also key to success in managing diabetes mellitus through people with diabetes.
You can share this information with people close to you who have diabetes or are at high risk of developing diabetes. By prevention, we hope to prevent diabetes mellitus. Even if you have diabetes mellitus, we can keep it under control so that there is no complications arise.
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Source:
Pusat Data dan Informasi. (2020). InfoDATIN: Tetap Produktif, Cegah, dan Atasi Dibetes Melitus. Jakarta: Kementerian Kesehatan RI