Diabetes UK issues advice on coronavirus

Diabetes UK has issued advice on the coronavirus warning people it can cause “severe symptoms and complications in people with diabetes”.

In a post on its website, the charity said it has pulled together a number of resources to help people with diabetes who have been concerned about the global outbreak. The charity said a number of people had been in touch “looking for advice”.

The specific diabetes-related advice is as follows:

If you have diabetes and have been travelling abroad, and you think you may have been exposed to coronavirus, the most up-to-date advice on what to do can be found on the NHS or government websites. There’s information on how to access this advice further down this page. 

While the risk of getting Coronavirus in the UK remains low, if you have diabetes and you become unwell for any reason, it’s important that you follow sick day rules, and that you closely monitor your blood sugar. You might find our advice on how to manage illness with diabetes useful.

Dan Howarth, Diabetes UK’s Head of Care, said: “Coronavirus or COVID-19 can cause more severe symptoms and complications in people with diabetes. If you have diabetes and you have symptoms such as cough, high temperature and feeling short of breath you need to monitor your blood sugar closely and call the NHS 111 phone service.

“People with diabetes who don’t experience symptoms and have recently travelled to any of the affected areas need to follow information on the NHS and the gov.uk websites, which are updated regularly and are the most up-to-date source of information available.”

To read the page in full, click here.

Picture credit: Allie Smith