Diabetes mellitus, a chronic metabolic disorder in which blood sugar levels are abnormally high, has emerged as the single biggest comorbidity factor (an existing medical condition) in the deaths of patients infected with coronavirus in Haryana.

About 62% of the total infected persons who died till August 2 in the state due to the virus had comorbidities.

Data analysed by the health department on comorbidity factor in Covid-19 patients showed that about 8% of them had diabetes, 5% of them had an existing respiratory disease, 4% patients each had heart disease and high blood pressure, 3% of them had kidney disease, about 2% patients each had a neurological disorder, cancer and liver disease and 1% were anaemic, statistics reveals.

“Our experience is that a number of coronavirus infected patients admitted in hospitals have quite high levels of blood sugar. This is because either they have diabetes or pre-diabetes. Also, the stress of the Covid-19 infection in a patient can result in an adrenaline surge, thus increasing the blood sugar levels. The infection can also lead to fall in insulin level due to the steroids given to patients,” said Dr. Chaudhary, who is also the nodal officer for Covid-19 in Haryana.