COVID-19 booster shot urged for people with diabetes

For increased protection, a health expert on Thursday advised people with diabetes to get COVID-19 booster shot.

Dr. Carol Montano, a member of the Philippine Society of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism (PSEDM), said people with diabetes are recommended to get the jab as vaccine efficacy wanes over time.

“Sa locally, pinagsisimulan po namin ang pag-aaral pero internationally at base na rin po sa ... American Diabetes Association nakita po natin na tumaas ang proteksyon ng mga may diabetes na na-ospital noong nagkaroon po sila ng booster,” Motano said during the Laging Handa briefing.

(Locally, we are starting the study but internationally and based on the American Diabetes Association, we have seen an increase in the protection of people with diabetes who were hospitalized when they had a booster.)

“Hindi po nagiging enough ang full dose. Marami po sa mga pasyenteng may diabetes after four months nagkaroon po ulit sila ng either new variant na COVID-19. Kaya po talaga pinupursigi natin mag-booster doses ang mga pasyenteng may diabetes,” she added.

(The full dose is not enough. Many of the patients with diabetes after four months had new variant of COVID-19 again. That is why we really encourage diabetic patients to take booster doses.)

To protect diabetics against COVID-19, Montano said that the PSEDM is constantly working with the Department of Health.

She also advised people with diabetes to monitor their blood sugar level.

Meanwhile, Montano bared that there was an increase of diabetes cases during the pandemic but did not disclose any figure.

“’Yun nga po ang nakita sa pag-aaral ng mga meta analysis sa mga experience ng different hospitals. Locally and abroad na yung mga nagkaroon ng mga COVID-19, nagkaroon po tayo ng pagtaas ng kaso ng diabetes. This is compared po sa time noong wala pa po tayong COVID-19,” she added.

(As seen in the study of meta analysis in the experiences of different hospitals – locally and abroad – from among those who had COVID-19, we had an increase in cases of diabetes. This is compared to the time when we didn't have COVID-19.)—LDF, GMA News