The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on diabetes patients continues to be a challenge for the medical community.
Tina Canada, Diabetes Education Coordinator at OSF Holy Family Medical Center, says there’s been an increase in both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes in children who have been infected with the virus:
“We’re also looking at children who are coming up with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes at a higher rate following COVID and also just how the pandemic has affected people in terms of eating habits and less physical activity. People have stopped going to the gym. It’s always been for many years an epidemic that so many people are having a developing diabetes and pre-diabetes but we’re seeing an increase in that.”
The Diabetes Support Group at OSF will hold its next meeting at 5 p.m. Feb. 28, when Dr. Jeremiah Bushmaker will be on-hand to discuss proper foot care and the impact it has on managing your diabetes. For more information, contact Tina Canada at (309) 734-1424.