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Having diabetes is a vital risk factor for developing adverse effects from COVID-19, and with approximately 37 million people in the U.S. having diabetes and an estimated eight million living with undiagnosed diabetes, this pandemic addressed how important it is to get everyone screened and diagnosed.
Even three years later, the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) reported on studies showing that adults with diabetes with elevated HbA1C levels have a 35-40% higher odds of COVID-19 hospitalisation and severe illness.
The key to preventing adverse outcomes with COVID-19 is better diabetes management, but during the pandemic, many people with diabetes were left to manage it on their own—some for the first time.
Imagine being newly diagnosed with diabetes right before everything shut down. People were left waiting months to be seen by providers to establish their diabetes management plan.
Thankfully telehealth became an option, but the pandemic showed how important teaching self-management of chronic diseases is. Providing people with the tools and knowledge they need for self-management is more important than ever.
Managing and preventing chronic diseases
Why is it essential to continue managing and preventing chronic diseases, now and in the future?
There are several reasons why preventing and managing chronic disease is important now and in the future. We all want a good quality of life. Preventing or managing chronic disease is critical for reducing complications which can negatively impact the quality of life.
Living with a chronic disease can also heavily impact mental health, and there is insufficient support for the intersect of mental health and chronic disease management.
Beyond Type 1 is a great resource that medical professionals can share with their patients. We have created various mental health resources to help address the gap in that education and support.
Given that healthcare affordability and accessibility challenges persist for some people, preventing chronic disease is important for people’s livelihood. No one should have to pick between managing their chronic condition or putting food on the table. Preventing chronic disease is also preventing further health disparities.
Even looking at the bigger impact, a recent study funded by the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities estimated that the cost of racial and ethnic health disparities on the U.S. economy increased over a span of four years by 41% to $451 billion in 2018.
I would imagine that has only increased with the COVID-19 pandemic. The cost of chronic disease management is hurting the people directly impacted by it and the economy for several reasons, including the unregulated costs associated with healthcare.
Ignoring the cost of it, managing chronic disease is a human right—everyone’s right to live a healthy and fulfilling life is essential.
Type 2 diabetes prevention programmes
How effective are programmes and campaigns, such as those implemented by the CDC, in helping to prevent type 2 diabetes and increase understanding of the condition?
The CDC and National diabetes prevention programmes (DPP) are part of the solution needed to raise awareness, get people screened and diagnosed, provide the resources for self-management and the support people need. These are evidence-based programmes using data about diabetes management plans to help prevent, delay onset, or better manage life with type 2 diabetes.
The great thing is that DPPs are offered in various places—including local YMCAs and even online. Programmes and campaigns are only effective if they are
accessible to those needing them. Programmes in different languages, at local community centers and online improves prevention and management.
As far as understanding the condition, I think we still have a way to go for two reasons. First, it is difficult to make people look past established misconceptions and stigmas to educate them on the condition. When society and media perpetuate these misconceptions and stigmas, it is working against all the work these programmes and campaigns are trying to do.
Secondly, science must truly understand the condition because it is extremely complicated. There is no one cause for diabetes, which makes it hard to provide one treatment or cure.
What we do understand is that living with diabetes is very challenging physically and mentally. We all still need to raise awareness and provide support to prevent and manage type 2 diabetes.
What are researchers doing to find ways to prevent type 1 and type 2 diabetes?
A lot of amazing research is being done for both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Every year researchers present their work and findings at conferences like the American Diabetes Association’s Scientific sessions and the International Conference on Advanced Technologies and Treatments of Diabetes (ATTD), to name a few. Beyond Type 1 will be highlighting and sharing some of the research at this year’s ADA conference.
As for type 1 diabetes, the current research is looking into several things like beta cell and gene therapy to help prevent further beta cell deterioration and even protect against type 1 diabetes development.
A recent beta cell summit hosted by three organisations, including JDRF, highlighted some pretty spectacular research being done that showed promising results on regenerating beta cell mass and more.
A big recent advancement was the FDA approval of Prevention Bio’s drug, Tzield (teplizumab-mzwv), to delay the onset of type 1 diabetes. This is the first drug of its kind, and I am excited to see how this paves the way for more treatments to come.
Type 2 diabetes research has also come a long way. Most studies in adults have focused on and concluded that lifestyle changes have a big impact on lowering risks, but recent studies have shifted and focused on the genetics behind type 2 instead.
A recent promising study utilised gene therapy to treat and even prevent the progress of type 2 diabetes.
The research is really breaking through barriers to go even beyond what past studies have done for preventing and treating all forms of diabetes. It is an exciting time for diabetes research and tech development.
References
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