New Delhi, Sep 8 (IANS) A study has revealed that diabetics can protect themselves from flu and other serious infections by reducing their weight.
A study conducted by Ryan Hopkins and Ethan de Villiers of the University of Exeter, UK, found evidence that high body mass index is a risk factor for severe infections.
In contrast, there is no evidence that mild hyperglycemia contributes to the risk of serious infections, according to the study published in the journal Diabetologia.
“One-third of people with diabetes are hospitalized for infections. People with diabetes are twice as likely to be hospitalized for infections as the general population. They also have a higher risk of being re-hospitalized,” Hopkins said.
Earlier research has shown that patients with high BMI have poorly controlled blood sugar levels, which puts them at a higher risk of developing serious infections.
However, these studies are only observational, and so cannot prove that the effects can be this serious.
The team used data from the UK Biobank to explore the effect of high BMI and poor blood sugar control on hospitalisation for bacterial and viral infections.
found that high BMI was associated with being hospitalised with infections. A 5-point increase in BMI increased the risk of being hospitalised with a bacterial infection by 30 per cent.
Similarly, every five-point increase in BMI was associated with a 32 percent increase in the risk of severe viral infection.
This showed that high BMI is a risk factor for serious bacterial and viral infections. Infections are a major cause of death and morbidity in diabetics. However, mild hyperglycemia is not a cause of serious infections.
According to researchers, anyone hospitalised with a severe infection has a higher risk of being hospitalised again with another infection.
–IANS
MKS/AS
