Scientists have been tracking changes to the genetic makeup of the new coronavirus to better understand how best to slow its spread. Adam M. Brufsky writes in The Conversation that hisresearch on the link between high blood sugar in patients and severity of illness from the virus could provide insight into the nature of different possible types of virus. Specifically, the presence of sugar on the virus’s spike protein could help differentiate them. My hypothesis is that the severity of novel coronavirus disease could, in part, be explained by adding of sugar molecules to the coat of the virus and its receptor.It turns out that among other things, hydroxychloroquine can serve as an oral hypoglycemic agent, lowering blood sugar.