Balancing Diabetes and Glycemic Control During COVID-19

For many, managing diabetes and glycemic control can feel unpredictable even during normal times. Add in a pandemic, quarantine, and the need to navigate vaccine distribution, and diabetes may have shifted to the back burner. It certainly has for me, on occasion!

However, it's important to work toward maintaining glycemic control — especially during this time, when scientific data is still emerging about COVID-19, various mutations, and interactions with diabetes. When blood sugar is out of range, the body will dedicate resources to return itself to equilibrium, leaving us folks with diabetes potentially more vulnerable to developing complications in the event of a coronavirus infection.

As with most health conditions, the closer our blood sugar mimics that of someone without diabetes, the better our overall health outcomes. And thankfully, that's not too hard to achieve with a little knowledge and know-how.

Here are a few ideas for fresh diabetes and glycemic control motivation during this unique time.

Take the stress out of food

One way to dial back the diabetes stress is to shift to more low-glycemic foods. In general, these foods avoid blood sugar spikes and help keep glucose trend lines stable. In fact, Harvard Medical School even noted, "Low-glycemic diets have also been linked to reduced risks for cancer, heart disease, and other conditions."

So what foods are in the low-glycemic category? You probably have a good idea from noting your own blood sugar trends, but here are the most common options:

Non-starchy vegetables, beans, and fruits
Whole grains
Healthy proteins, like beans, fish, or skinless chicken
Healthy fats, like olive oil, nuts, and avocado

When my mental bandwidth is taxed, I try to reach for these types of foods. Their low-glycemic index prevents my blood sugar from spiking, and seeing that steady trend line eases my overall stress level.

Of course, I need to have these snacks and staples on-hand to employ them when I need a mental break from reacting to large blood sugar swings. Consider picking up a few favorites every time you grocery shop, or keep a few standard items in your grocery order.

Establish healthy habits without distractions

Even though quarantine generally elicits a negative response, I've found a few silver linings during this extended time. For instance, with work environment distractions at bay and a pause on social gatherings, I've been able to establish a healthy routine without the usual interruptions.

Here are a few ideas for helpful routines to implement now, before everything returns to "normal":

Weekly meal planning. This is great for your budget as well as your blood sugar. This can also streamline grocery ordering.
Practicing mindfulness. There are lots of apps to choose from, even my Fitbit has a simple mindfulness feature. This has been a great way to ease stress.
Exercising. Again, there are so many apps to try out. Many programs are running a free month or two, so take advantage of the offers to find which app works best for you!

Put diabetes on autopilot

I'm a big fan of putting diabetes on autopilot as much as possible. And if the pandemic is taking up a lot of your head space, this may be a good option for you as well.

Here are a few suggestions for streamlining your diabetes management:

Set up automatic refills for diabetes prescriptions and supplies.
Set calendar reminders for doctor's appointments or phone calls.
Organize diabetes supplies to easily identify any low stock.
Set your continuous glucose monitor (CGM) high/low limits tighter to provide an alert before your blood sugar tracks too far out of range.

Maintain vigilance as the pandemic winds down

With COVID-19 vaccines beginning to roll out, it's starting to feel like the weight of this pandemic is lifting ever so slightly, which feels good. But even though there appears to be a light at the end of the tunnel, it's important to continue to heed the advice of scientists and medical experts.

This interim period is just that — the experts still don't know everything about COVID-19, how long the vaccines will be effective, or how the disease may mutate. Managing diabetes and glycemic control is crucial when facing any virus, and even more so due to the mountain of unknowns with COVID-19.

Interested in more tips for managing diabetes during the COVID-19 pandemic? Explore the Edgepark Health Insights blog to discover more actionable information.