Researchers in China found that people with hyperglycemia, or high blood sugar, are twice as likely to die from a coronavirus infection. The researchers published their data in the journal Diabetologia, showing a link between abnormally high blood sugar and poor outcomes from COVID-19.

According to Medical Daily, hyperglycemia raises the risk of death by changing blood clotting times and increasing the production of inflammatory cytokines that can cause lung damage. According to the University of Michigan, when the inflammatory response is unleashed, the immune system attacks not just the virus itself but the rest of the body's healthy cells and tissue, leading to a rapid deterioration in health.

The Chinese researchers urged all hospital personnel to monitor the blood sugar levels of COVID-19 patients to increase their chances of surviving the disease.

"Blood sugar testing and control should be recommended to all COVID-19 patients even if they do not have pre-existing diabetes, as most COVID-19 patients are prone to glucose metabolic disorders," wrote the scientists, adding that early intervention can save lives.