The majority of patients being placed on ventilators had underlying conditions when the first wave of Covid hit the U.S. Over the past few years, there has been a surge in the number of people with metabolic disorders like obesity and diabetes.
At the beginning of the epidemic, people were confused by a question: Why does diabetes make it harder to fight a respiratory virus?
Studies show that people with diabetes can be thrown into a very dangerous blood sugar state by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which can make blood sugar control worse in the short term. It does this by binding itself to the cells of the pancreas which produce the drug.
I often tell my patients that having diabetes means they are in a chronic low-grade inflammatory state, which taxes the body's innate immune system and makes it slower to jump on pathogens when they enter the body.
What we eat affects our immune system a lot. During Covid, sugar is the most detrimental ingredient to your immune health.
When you have high blood sugar, it starts a cycle of inflammation and damage to the blood vessels, and the immune system, because you eat too much of it.
This creates a distraction for the immune system and allows dangerous germs to slip through our body's defenses.
This may be bad news if you have already been diagnosed with prediabetes. It isn't permanent; type 2 diabetes doesn't have to be.
Eliminating excess sugar from your diet can help end this cycle. One of the best ways to improve your immune system is to reduce your sugar consumption.
You might think I don't need to worry about this because I'm not a sweets person.
If you have too many simple sugars like bread, pasta, rice, cereals, and juices, it can cause your blood sugar to go up.
People forget that sugar is in many things, such as salad dressings and lattes.
If you have a high blood sugar, I recommend that you get a fasting hemogoblin A1c test from your doctor, even if you don't have a family history of diabetes.
Even if your blood sugar is normal the day you see your doctor, the test can catch underlying issues.
If you know where you stand on the blood sugar spectrum, you can take the steps below to improve your health.
1. Cut back on sugars that are obvious.
We all love the seasonal flavors of cake and soda. The foods and drinks contain a lot of sugar.
Dark chocolate, berries, or another low-sugar treat is a good choice. I am not saying that you have to stop eating sugar-laden foods forever. The occasional dessert is fine. It is important to get to a place where your blood sugar is stable and healthy at the beginning.
2. You should read the labels.
It is time to check the amount of added sugar in every item in your pantry, even things that are advertised as low in sugar or healthy.
The American Heart Association recommends that women and men consume no more than six and nine ounces of added sugar a day, respectively.
We still get natural sugars from fruits, vegetables and grains.
3. Eat more fiber.
Fiber is the antidote if sugar is poison. Fiber protects you from sugar spikes and keeps your digestion regular, but it also helps slow the absorption of sugar into your bloodstream.
Lack of fiber is one of the reasons why sodas, fruit juices and sugared coffee drinks are bad for your health. Fresh whole plant-based foods have blood-sugar-protecting fiber, but they contain a ton of sugar.
Black beans and lentils are one of my favorite high-fiber foods.
4. Choose nutrition over calories.
Instead of worrying about cutting calories, focus on adding more healthy foods to your diet.
You don't need to go low-carb, just choose the right one. It's a great way to keep hunger at bay by eating vegetables, beans, nuts and seeds.
You can track your intake with several apps. All my patients have to log their eating for a few days to see how much they are getting. It is often very revealing.
Dr. Moday is a board-certified allergist. She is the author of ”The Immunotype Breakthrough: Your personalized plan to balance your immune system, health, and resilience” Follow her on social media.
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