Speaking Out for Vaccine Prioritization for People with T1D & T2D

As COVID-19 vaccines become available, are you wondering how people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes will be prioritized? This is actually something that many people are asking and many advocacy groups are currently addressing. Here is information about the current status of eligibility and prioritization, as it relates to diabetes, from Diabetes Mine:

Unfortunately, as of early January, the CDC seemed to view type 2 diabetes (T2D) differently than T1D as far as prioritizing COVID-19 vaccine access. People with T2D are categorized as “at increased risk” of more severe illness, according to 2019 CDC dataTrusted Source, considered the “strongest and most consistent evidence.” Those with T1D, however, simply “might be at an increased risk” for severe illness, based on dataTrusted Source that’s considered “limited evidence.”

In the meantime, a growing collection of clinical data shows that T1Ds are indeed at increased risk of more severe COVID-19 outcomes. More recent clinical evidence demonstrates that COVID-19 severity is more than tripled in individuals with T1D. More from the American Diabetes Association:

Currently, the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices – whose recommendations influence the order in which states are making vaccines are available – classify T1D as a lower risk than T2D for COVID-19. With many states now utilizing the same outdated CDC risk classification to design their vaccine distribution plans some 1.6 million with T1D are at risk for receiving a COVID vaccination later than others in the same risk category.

On January 13, nineteen diabetes organizations signed a letter urging the CDC to immediately prioritize T1D alongside T2D given the common, heightened risk both groups face for the most severe health outcomes of COVID-19. “As the data make clear, differentiating between T1D and T2D for purposes of assessing COVID-19 risk is an error that could cost even more lives, and we urge CDC to correct this immediately,” said Dr. Robert Gabbay, Chief Scientific and Medical Officer for the ADA. Read the letter here.

The ADA was joined by 18 other organizations who signed the letter:

American Diabetes Association
JDRF
Children with Diabetes
Beyond Type 1
American Association of Clinical Endocrinology
American Podiatric Medical Association
Diabetes Leadership Council
Diabetes Patient Advocacy Coalition
Certification Board for Diabetes Care and Education
DiabetesSisters
The diaTribe Foundation
Endocrine Society
Pediatric Endocrine Society
T1D Exchange
College Diabetes Network
YMCA of the USA
National Association of Chronic Disease Directors
Legal Environmental Assistance Foundation, Inc.
Association of Diabetes Care & Education Specialists

Safe at School

The fall transition back to school has begun. For some families, school has started (in one form or another). Other families begin next week, and some kids’ summers will extend through Labor Day. Whether your family and district have chosen in-person learning, virtual learning, home schooling, or a hybrid option, safety is of the highest priority. The ADA (American Diabetes Association) has compiled recommendations for staying as safe as possible, especially in the in-school setting. Here are some highlights from their resource, Safe at School During COVID-19: Recommendations on Returning to School for Children with Diabetes.

How can my child and I limit the spread of COVID-19 at school?

• Wash hands or use hand sanitizer frequently.

• Wear a mask when outside of your home.

• Practice physical distancing.

• Cough and sneeze into a tissue or your elbow.

• Avoid touching your face.

• Avoid being around people who are sick.

• Follow local and state regulations.

My child is very worried about returning to school. What should I say or do?

• Keep in mind that every child responds to stress in different ways.

• Understand the facts so you can provide your child with accurate, age-appropriate information.

• Limit your child’s exposure to the news and social media.

• Stress that the pandemic is temporary, and adults are working to keep them safe.

• It can help to keep a schedule that mimics the school day. A schedule can help children and adults feel that the situation is more predictable.

• Be an example! Model ways to minimize risk for COVID-19 exposure such as washing your hands, practicing physical distancing and wearing a face mask.

• Elevated levels of stress can impact blood glucose levels and these tips can help ease your child’s stress.

On behalf of Healthy Living, good luck as a new school year begins! Take care, and let us know how we can help!

Learn More : coronavirusdiabetes.org

​COVID-19 isn't new news at this point, but there is a great resource, coronavirusdiabetes.org, waiting for you with information specific to COVID and living with diabetes. 

Members of the diabetes community are among the most vulnerable to serious complications caused by coronavirus.​ This website, brought to us by the JDRF and Beyond Type 1 Alliance, encourages all of us to do our part: "Protect those most vulnerable, including members of the global diabetes community. Protect those who cannot stay home. Protect those on the front lines. Protect our farmers, grocery workers, nurses, and pharmacists. Protect yourself and your family."

Coronavirusdiabetes.org highlights recommendations for people with diabetes that have been endorsed by  The American Diabetes Association, Beyond Type 1, Harvard Medical School, ISPAD, and JDRF and are being shared by diabetes communities around the world to keep the most vulnerable among us safe. You can download the official behavior change recommendations here.

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Practical Resources for Navigating Diabetes & COVID-19

When it comes to COVID-19, present and future, there are so many questions. But, Coronavirus and diabetes? This brings even more to navigate. A great place for gathering information is a compilation of resources from Diabetes Mine. Their article, Coronavirus and Diabetes: Useful Resources, can be found here. This post will point you in the direction of reliable news relating to the connection between diabetes and COVID-19, and it will offer some practical, hands-on support for staying safe while living with diabetes during these times.

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