Dr Khurshid Ahmad Bhat
Srinagar: A senior doctor at the Super Speciality Hospital here on Monday cautioned people against the use of steroid in severe coronavirus cases saying the same may increase blood glucose levels among the patients.
Dr Khurshid Ahmad Bhat, Consultant, Endocrinologist in Super Speciality Hospital Srinagar said that 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, in case diabetes is not under control then there can be severity in disease. Besides, stress in infected patients can lead to an 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.
“The 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”, he added.
Recommending the use of masks and restricted movement, the senior doctor said that the people need to understand that efforts are being made to break the chain of transmission of corona virus disease and there is no need to create panic. He also cautioned that venturing out unnecessarily will leverage the spread of virus.
“Wearing masks below the chin doesn’t serve its purpose, venturing out unnecessarily is affecting the management and containment of the virus,” he said.
Pitching for an early vaccination to help bring coronavirus pandemic to a halt, Dr Bhat said that more and more people should come forward to get vaccinated.
“Besides, repeated testing after an asymptomatic person has recovered is also not required,” Dr Bhat said.
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 further said this second wave contained healthcare and people should behave properly. He said that maintenance of distance, washing hands frequently, use of masks and sanitizers will help to break the chain.
“Vaccination is very important and I request all eligible people to come forward for vaccination,” he said, adding “Both vaccines covishield and covaxin are safe and minor side effects like temporary fever and body ache after vaccination can be treated with a tablet of paracetamol,”
The senior doctor further urged people not to panic as it can only aggravate management and containment of virus.
“Simple infection can be treated at home by taking paracetamol, drinking enough water, home isolation and following SOPs”, however decrease in oxygen saturation below 93% implies hospitalization is required,” he said.
He further added that the testing capacity has been overwhelmed and suggested judicious use of testing.
He also informed that “If a person tested positive then there is no need of repeated RT-PCR”, also, “If a person had been asymptomatic or mild symptomatic and has recovered” further testing is not advisable, he doesn’t need further testing,” said Dr Bhat.
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