Health dept alerts does on use of HCQ, steroids

There may be high chances of stress hyperglycaemia among Covid patients and it has been found that Covid-19 could unmask latent diabetes. Physicians must be cautious about the use of steroids, which can aggravate hyperglycaemia and also about HCQs which can cause hyperglycaemia

SNS, SILIGURI. 4 OCTOBER 2020 : The state health department has cautioned about diabetes and stress-induced hyperglycaemia triggered by Covid19.1t has also alerted doctors treating Covid-19 patients on the use of steroids and hydroxychloroquine (HCQ).

The Health & family welfare department issued the 'Advisory on Protocol Management for Covid-19 Patients' for co-morbid patients according to observations made by doctors who visited health facilities for Covid-19 patients recently.They have observed "certain lacunae in practice which need urgent rectification," the advisory says.

'There may be high chances of stress hyperglycaemia among Covid patients and it has been found that Covid-19 could unmask latent diabetes. Physicians must be cautious about the use of steroids, which can aggravate hyperglycaemia and also about HCQs which can cause hyperglycaemia,"' it adds.

Health department sources said doctors should stay vigilant as Covid-19 could increase the risk of uncontrolled blood sugar in diabetes patients and others.

The Indian Council of Medical Research has stated that the anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine, could lower the risk of the coronavirus infection.

The advisory has been issued for both government and private hospitals, where Covid-19 patients are treated.

The department says that patients admitted in the ICU might need insulin for glucose control and blood glucose at least three times a day.

It further advises continuation of the Angiotensin Controlling Enzyme (ACE) inhibitors or Angiotensin Receptor Blockers (ARB) as an antihypertensive agent for the patients.

The advisory also says that Covid-19 could cause myocardial injury- the reason for mortality. It says vascular thrombosis in pulmonary or coronary vessels was another common finding. It has stressed on proper investigations to rule out acute myocardial infarction (AMI) as it might be masked in Covid cases.