We’ve found a bunch of diabetes survivors of COVID-19, and asked them to share their stories here. COVID-19 and diabetes is a scary topic – we know that people with diabetes, particularly Type 2 diabetes, are at greater risk of severe COVID-19. And we know that there are certain precautions people with diabetes should take, and some helpful free resources during the pandemic.
Here’s what we know about COVID-19 and diabetes in SA – there’s not much local research yet. A lot of diabetics have been worried about getting coronavirus, especially because it’s the top co-morbidity in many South African cases. So we asked on our Diabetic South Africans if there were any diabetes survivors of COVID-19. Here are their stories.
Recovering from COVID-19 with Type 2 diabetes
“My name is Ursula Louw, and I’ve been living with Type 2 diabetes for 3 years.”
“I didn’t even realise I had COVID-19. My sister had flu and I went with her to her doctor’s appointment. While there I just mentioned to our doctor that my back was aching like crazy. I had no fever, no coughing.. She asked if I could smell and taste, and I realized that since the previous Sunday I couldn’t. When the doctor checked me, she told me my lungs were terrible that’s why I was in so much pain. My husband tested negative but had the same symptoms as me. Lucky we were not feeling well, so we were staying in bed for that few days before I found out except for the days I went to the doctor.
“I treated it with antibiotics, multivitamins, garlic and ginger and lemon with a little honey, and boiled milk a teaspoon of turmeric at night. I drank kankerbossie brew during the day, and when my chest was tight I got a nebulizer which helped a lot.”
“My advice to other diabetics is to pray and try to stay positive – I know it’s hard. And take your chronic medication first thing and then 3 to 4 hours later take the antibiotics (I felt terrible when I took them all at once). I’m feeling much better now, but still taking extra care.”
Type 2 diabetes COVID-19 survivor
“My name is Shiaam Gamildien. I was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes in July last year after my hysterectomy. I also have high blood pressure and hypothyroidism.”
“In January of this year, 2020, my husband and I stayed at a hotel in the Cape Town city centre. He is a tourist guide, so we were given a room in the hotel where his group was staying. The hotel had mainly Chinese guests, many of whom were coughing a lot. At that time, COVID-19 was something new and not much talked about.”
“When we got home from the hotel, both my husband and I started feeling sick. I was down for 3 weeks, he was not as bad as I was. Then in May he started feeling sick again. He went for a test and the results came in positive. My son and I went for tests, mine came in positive and my son negative. For about a month I was ill, not able to eat, had body aches and no sense of smell and taste. Again my husband didn’t have it as bad.”
“Thankfully I recovered. Throughout the whole ordeal, I took ACC200 and Panado. My only advice would be to take ACC200 or Corenza, vitamins and plenty of fluids. Rest a lot and try to stay positive.”
Recovering from COVID-19 with Type 2 diabetes
“My name is Mogamisi Motshidisi. I’ve been living with Type 2 diabetes for 6 years. I survived COVID-19 with diabetes, hypertension and heart disease. “
“When the COVID positive results came, it was a terrible shock – I won’t lie. I started observing myself closely. I was coughing and at the first sign of bloody phlegm I called the ambulance. I went to a hospital with my medical history. When I got to the hospital, fortunately the medics knew their story. I was given blood thinners and put on oxygen. I was in hospital for 7 days.”
“My advice to other diabetics is take immune boosters like zinplex, vitamins, ACC200. Don’t force yourself to eat, because it might make you vomit. I bought instant soup at home. My family brought 100% orange juice and fruit that I liked – I preferred prunes because they are sour and could keep me regular. I was tired and rested a lot.”
“Most of all, I made sure to stay calm. I tried to remember all the names of my chronic illnesses and medications. I asked the doctors and nurses a lot of questions. I’m still on sick leave and still getting my appetite back. But I survived COVID-19!”
Surviving COVID-19 with Type 2 diabetes
“My name is Sindiswa Lingela. I was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes in 2002.”
“In and around June 16th 2020, I felt some body aches. By 19th June I had a hacking dry cough and asked my doctor for an asthma pump to help with the breathing. Then came the high temperature, body aches and short breath. I asked my doctor to refer me for COVID testing. I tested at a Pathcare laboratory on 23rd June and my results were out the following day.”
“Knowing that I’m about to turn 64 in August and that I have a few comorbidities (diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol), I decided to sleep on the results and prepare my four daughters emotionally and psychologically. A doctor friend advised that I present to a hospital soonest. I was admitted at Milnerton MediClinic on 25th June.”
“In the days before I went to hospital, I was using zinc complex pills, flu effervescent pills, Vicks and steaming with Wilde Als (artemisia) and eucalyptus oil. I knew that with the shortness of breath I was experiencing, none of these was going to give me oxygen. I was put on oxygen therapy immediately. On day 4, I was sent to ICU. Going to the toilet in the general ward would see me gasping like a fish out of water. In ICU I was on high flow humid oxygen. I was glad I was put on this therapy because I had read that a ventilator and being intubated was not working in many countries. I was in ICU for 8 days and returned to general ward where I stayed 3 more days before being discharged.”
“I have good days when I’m feeling strong, blowing balloons and being mobile in the house, garden and the street. I do feel that my left lung is not the same. I do a lot of breathing exercises to strengthen my lung. And I need to be careful not to be overactive – very difficult for me!”
“My advice to my fellow diabetics is please monitor your blood sugar levels! I was OCD about asking the hospital to pay particular attention to my sugar levels. They put you on vitamins, blood thinners and cortisone. Cortisone is an enemy of diabetes and saw horrific readings of 17 and even 20 at some stage. I asked the hospital to balance the effects of the cortisone with my blood sugar levels. They did but you could see that they were focused on the COVID-19 symptoms. Make a fuss about the management of your diabetes.”
“My other advice is: stay at home! I got it because I went out of my gate on 8th June to two shops. My mask was on all the time and there was good social distancing but I still got it. We are compromised and it is better for us to Stay At Home.”
Type 1 diabetes survivor of COVID-19
“My name is Bernadette Kinkonda. I’m a Type 1 diabetic, and I’ve been diabetic for 15 years. I’m also asthmatic and I have hypertension (high blood pressure) and cardiac (heart) issues. I’m 56 years old.”
“My first symptoms of COVID-19 were a very dry mouth, I felt too thirsty. It was tough, my blood sugar spiked very high. It’s important to check your blood sugar morning, lunch, supper if you have COVID-19.”
“I’m feeling great now. My advice to other people with diabetes would be: firstly, don’t panic. Check how you’re feeling, drink a lot of fluid (lemon, garlic, ginger, bicarb, hot water, soups). And get a lot of rest. Isolate at home, take care of yourself and get better.”
Type 2 diabetes survivor of COVID-19
“My name is Sphango Ta-spiro Njumbuxa and I’ve had Type 2 diabetes for nearly 10 years now. A few weeks ago I had a heavy flu and I decided to go and test for COVID-19. They called me back after a week of isolation and told me that my results are positive.”
“I wasn’t scared. I treated it like a normal flu: I drank Med-Lemon with an aspirin in the morning and evening before bed. I also ate a lot of vitamin C and E during the day.”
“It was easy for me to self isolate because I stayed alone. I controlled my blood sugar with my Metformin 850 – it wasn’t much higher than usual.”
“My advice to other people with diabetes who are worried about getting COVID-19? Stay at home and keep warm, my fellow diabetics.”
More survivors of COVID-19
Do you know anyone with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes who has survived COVID-19? Please ask them to share their story with us, and we can create a space of hope for people with diabetes during these difficult times! You can either email us or ask them to reach out on Diabetic South Africans.
What to read next?
- The one article you should read about COVID-19 and diabetes
- Should diabetics get the COVID-19 vaccine?
- What the research tells us about COVID-19 and diabetes
- What do we know about COVID-19 and diabetes?
- COVID-19 diabetes advice from a doctor
- COVID-19 diabetes update from a doctor
- Fast facts about diabetes and COVID-19
- 12 COVID-19 precautions and tips for people with diabetes
- Free COVID-19 resources for people with diabetes
- 10 diabetics share how coronavirus affects their diabetes
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Thank you for the encouraging article.
It’s a pleasure! Thanks for being here 🙂