Doctors call for people with diabetes and obesity to be prioritised for Covid vaccine
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People with diabetes and obesity should be prioritised for early Covid-19 vaccination, according to both metabolic doctors and Diabetes Ireland.
The Irish Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism (IrSPEN) said that diabetes and obesity have emerged as significant underlying risk factors for developing severe illness from Covid-19, and these patients should also be prioritised for continuity of treatment during the pandemic.
IrSPEN spokesperson and Obesity Specialist at St Vincent’s University Hospital Professor Carel le Roux said: “Intensive care units (ICUs) are currently filling up with many younger patients who have underlying diabetes and obesity and have contracted Covid-19.
Research shows surgery more effective at treating type 2 diabetes compared to regular insulin use
37% of patients who underwent the surgery achieved remission of their diabetes entirely. By Tadgh McNally Monday 14 Dec 2020, 6:30 AM Dec 14th 2020, 6:30 AM 20,307 Views 22 Comments
Image: Shutterstock/Proxima Studio
Image: Shutterstock/Proxima Studio
NEW RESEARCH ON type 2 diabetes has found that surgery is a more effective and cheaper option than insulin for two-thirds of patients.
The Irish Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism (IrSPEN) worked with the British Obesity and Metabolic Surgery Society to analyse over 2,000 post-surgery outcomes of patients with obesity and diabetes requiring insulin.
According to Professor Helen Heneghan from St Vincent’s University Hospital, 67% of patients who underwent metabolic
The groundbreaking research has also revealed surgery can free the majority from future use of insulin.
Research co-ordinated by the Irish Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism (IrSPEN) and the British Obesity and Metabolic Surgery Society analysed the post-surgery outcomes of nearly 2,000 patients with obesity and diabetes requiring insulin.
Professor Helen Heneghan from the National Metabolic Surgery Centre at St Vincent’s University Hospital, said 67pc of patients were no longer using insulin one year after metabolic surgery, and 37pc achieved remission of their diabetes altogether.
“On average patients also lost around a quarter of their bodyweight and the improvements persisted for at least four years,” said Professor Heneghan.