Diabetes is a deadly disease and seen in a lot of people these days. In a recent study, it is reported that respiratory infections are extremely dangerous for diabetic patients.
In 2012, the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus was first observed to emerge in Saudi Arabia. It was recorded that about 2400 cases were confirmed to be involved in the infection by the virus. The infection resulted in the death of around 800 patients.
Scientists and researchers around the world started to develop an antidote for this fatal disease. The research so far indicates that diabetes is the major risk factor for death. Other diseases include heart-related diseases, kidney disease, and lung-related illnesses.
Scientists from UMSOM (University of Maryland School of Medicine) and the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine have published about diabetes and its contribution to mortality from MERS-CoV infections. The paper was published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation Insights.
In the published paper, there was separate research for the other respiratory diseases as well. Diseases such as flu or pneumonia can affect diabetic patients. Researchers have tried connecting MERS-CoV and diabetes in a carrier (mouse model) and studied about it.
The research has found that the virus which causes MERS-CoV does not replicate in a diabetic mouse compared to a healthy mouse. However, the diabetic mouse showed lung inflammatory response. It had low levels of cytokines and fewer T-cells. Therefore, these conditions indicate the infection caused by the virus in diabetic patients occurs due to abnormalities in the host body.
A Ph.D. and professor of microbiology, Matthew Frieman said that he and his fellow researchers are trying to determine the immune response in diabetes. Also, how they can alternate the effects and go for the treatment.
In addition to it, researchers are also exploring whether they should double the stabilization of glucose level in blood in diabetic patients who are also facing respiratory infections or not.