Srinagar, May 10 (UNI): Asserting that breaking the chain of transmission by strictly adhering to the guidelines is the key to curtail the spread of COVID-19, a Health Expert on Monday said there is no need to create panic.
Dr Khurshid Ahmad Bhat, consultant, endocrinologist at Super Speciality Hospital Srinagar said the use of steroid in severe coronavirus cases can increase blood glucose levels, therefore, people with diabetes should monitor the sugar level regularly.
“Wearing masks below the chin doesn’t serve its purpose, venturing out unnecessarily is affecting the management and containment of virus. The general public needs to understand that efforts are being made to break the chain of transmission of coronavirus disease and there is no need to create panic. More and more people should come forward to get vaccinated. Besides, repeated testing after asymptomatic person has recovered is also not required,” he said.
Khurshid said diabetes and thyroid related problems are also common in J&K but diabetics as such are not more prone to getting infected with Covid-19 when compared with non-diabetic patients. However, he said in case diabetes is not under control then there can be severity in disease.
“Besides, stress in infected patients can lead to increase in sugar level and diabetic patients must monitor their sugar levels during the course of infection. Steroids given during severity of disease can also increase blood sugar levels and patients need to do frequent monitoring of their sugar level so that dose of insulin can be modulated,” he said.
He said diabetic patients in general need to continue with their medicine properly and check fasting blood sugar and post-breakfast blood sugar at least once in a month.
Dr Khurshid cautioned that venturing out unnecessarily will leverage the spread of virus. He maintained that during the first wave of Covid-19, there was fear among people and they avoided going outside their homes which is why the cases were less but now people have been moving out freely without fear or concern of getting infected which has resulted in increase in the number of cases, morbidity and deaths.
He said that maintenance of distance, washing hands frequently, use of mask and sanitizers will help to break the chain.
Moreover, he said, “Vaccination is very important and requested all eligible people to come forward for vaccination.”
He further dispelled some rumours and myths regarding vaccination.
Khurshid said testing capacity has been overwhelmed and suggested judicious use of testing. He informed that “if a person tested positive then there is no need of repeated RT-PCR”.
