A few months ago, few people had heard of COVID-19 and Coronavirus. Today these words are at the forefront of many conversations. It’s a virus which does not discriminate with how it infects and some of the most vulnerable at this time are people with Type 2 Diabetes.
If you have type 2 diabetes, there are some extra steps that you can take to ensure that your blood glucose levels remain at an optimum level and your immune system as resilient as possible.
How high blood sugar affects the immune system:
To get a better idea of the effects that high blood sugar has on the immune system, we’ve spoken to the experts to explain:
Typically, with someone who has type two diabetes, they will experience hyperglycemia.
This means that there is an excess of glucose in the bloodstream, which can be caused by any number of things such as diet, physical activity choices or not taking the correct medication. Following on from this, hyperglycaemia is what can lead to the weakening of the immune system.
Diabetes specialist Gary Scheiner states: “You’re feeding the enemy in a way if your blood sugar is poorly controlled. When you’re sick, running a lot of high blood sugars is going to extend your recovery time and cause your symptoms to become that much worse”. This might sound scary but do not panic- it is easily controlled.
With this in mind, what can we do?
First and foremost, it is extremely important to stay calm and de-stress during this global pandemic. Whilst the spread of the virus is completely out of our control, there are a number of things that are within our control, such as taking a deep breath when you start to feel anxious. Sounds too simple, but it actually does a world of good, and will help lower your blood glucose levels in turn.
In terms of maintaining healthy glucose levels, there are a number of natural ways to do so. Firstly, maintaining a healthy diet is definitely essential. Some of the best foods that you can eat to maintain healthy blood sugar levels are:
- Vegetables
- Whole grain
- Protein
- Low-calorie drinks
Dr Sarah Brewer also adds: “Replace some carbohydrates in your diet with healthy monounsaturated fats (e.g. in olive oil, avocado, almonds, macadamia nuts) and omega-3 fatty acids (e.g. from oily fish and walnuts).
This simple tweak can significantly improve glucose control, triglyceride levels, blood pressure and cholesterol balance in people with type 2 diabetes.”
Dr Sarah Brewer sits on the board of healthcare practitioners for CuraLin.
CuraLin is an all-natural type 2 diabetes supplement which works to maintain healthy blood glucose levels. Dr Brewer speaks of the effectiveness of CuraLin “An impressive number of reports from individual users show that CuraLin has a significant beneficial effect on glucose levels, with many people finding their glucose control normalises within four weeks. They also report improved energy, sleep and general quality of life.”
Find the Community
As people are increasingly advised to remain quarantined, and health services focus on dealing with the most urgent cases, seek support and comfort from supportive online communities. CuraLife have created ‘Winning Type 2 Diabetes Together‘, a safe online space of 8,000 people around the world suffering from high or erratic glucose levels or living with Type 2 Diabetes. It provides a platform to talk openly about their experiences and help one another with any queries or concerns. Whether you’re newly diagnosed or have been coping with the condition for years, it’s the best place to find support, knowledge, lifestyle tips and recipes!
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