#14 What does it mean to be ”immune compromised”?

In this episode, Dr. Grady and Garrett attempt to clear up the question, "what does it mean to be "immune compromised"? As diabetics we are often told that we are immune compromised or immune deficient, but is it that simple? Simply diabetic, does automatically mean we are immune compromised? We address these questions and attempt to provide a more complete picture of the immune system in relation to fighting off disease, and the many body systems that work with your immune system to get the job done. They also talk about various factors that can suppress the immune system and its ability to fight infections.

Table of Contents:

3:07 - What is immunocompromised/immune deficient?

6:35 - CBC w/ diff break down

12:40 - Lymphatic system and the immune system

22:25 - What does immune compromised mean for diabetics?

26:35 - Diabetics' general infection and complication risk

30:00 - How the immune system of a diabetic is different

35:00 - The type of infection that diabetics are at greater risk for

36:20 - High blood sugar while you are sick

39:00 - Lymphocytopenia with COVID-19 and diabetes

41:44 - Do you need to have additional fear as a diabetic specifically?

45:10 - Co-morbidities and considerations for overall health

57:03 - Cardiovascular system, hypertension and Sars-CoV-2

 

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Resources/Links Discussed in the episode:

Holt, R.I.G., Cockram, C.S., Flyvbjerg, A., Goldstein, B.J., (2017). Chapter 55, p799, Diabetes and Infections. Textbook of Diabetes, Fifth Edition. Wiley Blackwell publishing.

Knipe, H., & Bell, DJ., (April 2020). COVID-19. Radiopedia. https://radiopaedia.org/articles/covid-19-3?lang=us

Hawryluk, M., (April 6 2020). Mysterious Heart Damage, Not Lung Troubles, Befalling COVID-19 Patients. Kaiser Health News. https://khn.org/news/mysterious-heart-damage-not-just-lung-troubles-befalling-covid-19-patients/

(March 2020). Here’s the Damage Coronavirus (COVID-19) Can do to Your Lungs. Cleveland Clinic, Health Essentials. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/heres-the-damage-coronavirus-covid-19-can-do-to-your-lungs/

Life with T1D, (March 24, 2020). Your Coronavirus Questions Answered. JDRF. https://www.jdrf.org/blog/2020/03/24/answering-your-questions-coronavirus/

Wang, D., Hu, B., Hu, C., et al., (2020). Clinical Characteristics of 138 Hospitalized Patients with 2019 Novel Coronavirus Infected Pneumonia in Wuhan, Chian. JAMA; 323(11): 1061-1069. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2761044

Patel, PS., Buras, ED., & Balasubramanyam, A., (2013). The Role of the Immune System in Obesity and Insulin Resistance. Journal of Obesity; 616193:  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3618935/