You may have heard the saying, ‘If all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail’.  As a nutritionist I will admit that I am a bit of a hammer. If someone asks, ‘How do I get more energy?’ I will likely respond, ‘Eat clean and stay hydrated’. ‘What about having better brain function?’someone asks. ‘Watch those blood sugar highs and low’ might likely be my response.

But what about this COVID -19 epidemic, could nutrition play a role in its outcome? Would it make a difference if we were equally focussed on our diet and immune system as much as preventing contracting the virus with social distancing, hygiene, and masks?

Statistics

Thailand’s mortality rate from COVID-19 stands at one of the lowest in the world at 1.7% (global average was estimated at around 6%). However, among the deceased 41% had diabetes, 36% had high blood pressure, 18% had hyperlipidemia, and 14% had heart diseases.

When divided by age group, those who are over 70 had the highest mortality rate at 12.1%, followed by those aged 50-59 (4%) and 60-69 (3.7%), while the group with the lowest risk is 20-29 years old at 0.2%.

Among the deceased, 41% had diabetes, 36% had high blood pressure, 18% had hyperlipidemia, 14% had heart diseases. 

The CDC also recently released statistics that 94% of those who died had more than one underlying medical condition. When this figure is connected with the statistic that those people over 70 have the highest rates of mortality it stands out that health is a key player in COVID Mortality for those under 70 years of age.  

COVID-19 and metabolic syndrome

So I was thrilled to read a recent editorial from Dr Maryanne Demasi in the British Medical Journal titled; ‘COVID-19 and metabolic syndrome: could diet be the key?’

Dr Demasi starts by sharing the now-familiar statistics of the vast majority of people hospitalised and dying from COVID-19 as having pre-existing conditions including:

• Two-thirds of the people in the UK have fallen seriously are with COVID, who are overweight or obese. 
• 99% of deaths in Italy have been in patients with pre-existing conditions such as hypertension, diabetes and heart disease.

These conditions make up what is known as metabolic syndrome, and include high blood pressure, low good cholesterol, high blood sugar, high waist circumference.

Perhaps this may help to explain Thailand’s lower rate of mortality as Thailand has about half the Metabolic Syndrome cases of the US and UK – about 16% compared to the US and UK with over 32%.

What causes Metabolic Syndrome

Dr Demasi goes on to say metabolic syndrome is related to insulin resistance. The most significant factor that determines blood glucose levels is the consumption of carbohydrates, refined carbs, starches and simple sugars. 

She believes one of the problems facing people now is that people who are confined to nursing homes, hospitals and self-isolating are stockpiling non-perishable staple foods which are generally high carbohydrate like pasta, bread, rice and cereals and increasing their mortality risk.

Are you at risk of Metabolic Syndrome?

I highly recommend every year people doing an annual health check-up and getting your labs done. We are blessed when it comes to medical tourism in Phuket. With International Hospitals offering health checks along with many walk-in clinics. Here are some of the tests related to metabolic syndrome:

Fasting Blood Sugar, HBA1c (long term blood sugar), Full lipid (Cholesterol markers), Fasting Insulin along with getting your waist circumference measured (men should be under 90cm, women under 85cm) and blood pressure taken.

What do you do if these markers are high?

Naturally, talk to your doctor about solutions but here are 3 strategies to help using diet (regular exercise and good sleep naturally also help):

1. Reduce as much sugar as possible – so cut down or ideally eliminate the soft drinks, reduce adding sugar to meals or drinks and consuming confectionary.
2. Go lower Carb – especially lowering the refined grains like white bread, pasta, potatoes and rice. Try to replace these with more vegetables. As Doctor Demasi rightly says, even most diabetic associations now agree that restriction of dietary carbohydrates is a safe and effective way to achieve good balance between blood sugar and weight loss.
3. Try Intermittent Fasting (I.F.). I.F. is not for everyone (especially not for kids, pregnant women, and those with low blood sugar issues). But for those with metabolic syndrome not eating frequently and having longer gaps between meals has considerable research supporting its efficacy in blood sugar balance. The 5:2 diet is one style that recommends twice a week eating just 1 meal. Another strategy recommends eating only during an eight-hour window eg. 10am to 6pm and fasting the remainder. 

The key to long-term health success comes from firstly ownership of your health, so I highly recommend to get your labs done. If the results are not in your favour then make it very clear why health is important. Then comes the plan. Find the strategies that will work long term and become healthy habits. Finally, you need to make yourself accountable to follow through – maybe also share your goals with a friend, partner or coach and make those strategies become life-long habits. Good health to you!

Craig Burton (BSc, NASM, CISSN) is a practicing Clinical and Sports Nutritionist with over 20 years’ experience as a health practitioner. He holds an array of qualifications in nutrition, as well as in health, fitness, mental and lifestyle coaching. To find out more about Craig or contact him go to www.craigburtoncoaching.com

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THERE’S the temptation to think that — despite the masks and face shields — things are heading back to normal. Restaurants have now been given the go-signal for 24 hour operation, barbershops and salons are allowed to increase the number of customers that can step inside, and buses are back to plying EDSA (though commuters are reportedly struggling with the tap cards).

Butwe should always be reminded that there’s still a dangerous virus lurking in the air.

Multiple studies have shown that people with the most risk from COVID-19 are the people with so-called “comorbidities” — hypertension, diabetes, and the like.

These comorbidities are often lumped together under the term “lifestyle diseases.”

“Lifestyle diseases such as diabetes, obesity and heart disease are closely linked with the way people live their life,” said Dr. Michael Villa to SPIN Life. Villa is a member of the Philippine Society of Endocrinology and Metabolism.

He continued: “These noncommunicable diseases are associated with smoking, too much alcohol, lack of physical exercises, and too many calories or unhealthy eating habits.”

It’s the c-word that’s important here. (And no, we’re not talking about calories, though we’ll get to that a little later.) The SARS-CoV-2 virus is communicable; diabetes is not. We don’t catch the latter from other people — we only do it to ourselves.

And when it’s paired with something like COVID-19, well. Let’s just put it this way. A review of over 33 studies published late July found that comorbidities were present in 74.37 percent of fatal COVID-19 cases. Almost a quarter (24.89 percent) of these fatal cases also had diabetes.

But with or without COVID-19, “diabetes can become a serious medical condition if not properly addressed,” continued Villa. “If you have diabetes, you need to manage your blood sugars and regularly monitor blood sugar to stay within their target range.”

For those suffering from diabetes, you’ll need to keep your eye on the data. As you eat, the level of your glucose — or blood sugar — changes, and you need to know how and why these changes happen. Self-management of this disease can be aided by tools like flash glucose monitoring (sometimes called a patch glucose meter).

“[These] can help track fluctuations in the daily glucose levels of people with diabetes,” Villa said.

In addition, these diagnostic tools will also give real-time information to your doctor so they can cook up a better care plan.

But even so, nothing beats a lifestyle disease than some lifestyle changes. It bears repeating, but Villa also dished out some common sense advice for managing your blood sugar — and keeping yourself even better protected from COVID-19.

Eat the right amount of calories and cut too much refined sugars from your diet. “Eating foods high in refined carbs and sugar increases blood sugar and insulin levels which may lead to diabetes over time.”

Work out regularly. “Performing physical activity on a regular basis has shown to slow or help prevent heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, arthritis, osteoporosis (bone loss), and loss of muscle mass.”

Keep hydrated with water. “Drinking water instead of other beverages may help control blood sugar and insulin levels.”

Lose weight. “Even a small amount (about 5 percent) of weight loss can give you health benefits.”

Quit smoking. “Smoking can accelerate the development of diabetic complication and make it worse.”

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In September this year, the peak power demand was just 5.9 per cent lower as compared to the corresponding month last year

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Today’s 10 big news of corona – lockdown, virus PM Modi breaking news dls news 4 october news Today’s 10 big news of corona – lockdown, virus PM Modi breaking news dls news 4 october news 4 october 2020 today breaking news dls news corona news . 10/4/2020 DLS News Today Breaking News | DLS News aaj ki taja khabar 1. NCB deputy director KPS Malhotra who questioned Deepika Padukone in drugs case tests Covid-19 positive – NCB officer Corona positive who questioned Deepika Padukone in drugs case 2. Officer KPS Malhotra interrogating Deepika, Sara and Shraddha gets corona infection | Deepika, Sara and Shraddha are interrogated by the officer being coronated. Hindi News, Country 3. Coronavirus Outbreak India Cases LIVE Updates; Maharashtra Pune Madhya Pradesh Indore Rajasthan Uttar Pradesh Punjab Bihar Novel Corona (COVID 19) Death Toll India Today 04 October Mumbai Delhi Coronavirus News | In 7 states including Punjab, Maharashtra and Gujarat, the death rate is around 2-3%, higher than the national rate, in 14 states it is less than 1%; 65.47 lakh cases so far – Dainik Bhaskar 4. Coronavirus: More Than 70 Million People Tested in the Country So Far, Falling Infection Rate | Corona virus: More than 70 million people have been tested in the country so far, the rate of falling infection is 5. Coronavirus Novel Corona Covid 19 3 oct | Coronavirus Novel Corona Covid 19 News World Cases Novel Corona Covid 19 | The next 48 hours are crucial to improving Corona positive Trump’s health; 3.49 crore cases in the world so far – Dainik Bhaskar 6. Mamta Banerjee admitted, Corona reached the level of community transmission in Bengal – West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee admits corona reached stage of community transmission durga puja – AajTak 7. mamata-banerjee- sixteen_nine.jpg (1200 × 675) 8. Coronavirus: Corona Figures in Country Exceed 65 Lakhs | Corona virus: 75,829 new cases reported in 24 hours in the country, corona infects exceed 65 lakhs 9. COVID-19 Analytics Center, COVID-19 Data Center: Interactive coronavirus tracker (corona virus tracker) of cases in India and the world | Kovid-19 Analytics Center 10. Corona Infected Nepals Prime Minister KP Oli, Prime Ministers Residence Sanitized | Corona infected Nepal’s Prime Minister KP Oli, Prime Minister’s residence sanitized 11. 5 tips for older person know how to stop ageing in older person in coronavirus pandemic | The elderly are most at risk of infection from corona, by making these 5 changes in diet, the effect of increasing age can be reduced and can avoid major diseases – Dainik Bhaskar.

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