Influenza can have serious consequences for people with diabetes, and a flu shot could literally save your life. Diabetes makes you more vulnerable to the flu and complications such as pneumonia. An estimated 10% of all deaths from flu-related complications occur in persons with diabetes. Flu shots have been shown to prevent symptoms in 80% of people exposed to the flu. Unfortunately, only about 30% of people aged 18 to 44 with diabetes regularly get vaccinated against flu.
Influenza is extremely contagious. Virus particles spray out into the air every time an infected person talks, coughs, or sneezes. It can also be spread though hand contact and even just touching items handled by someone who has the flu. As you can imagine, children are excellent carriers of the disease because it spreads quickly through schools and day cares. You’ll also find flu on crowded airplanes, trains, and buses. Basically, if you get around other humans, you’re going to be exposed to flu.
Early symptoms of flu include headache, fever, sore throat, runny nose, tiredness, weakness, and muscle aches. These symptoms often come on quite suddenly. While medicine has recently made progress in coming up with medications which can make flu less severe, you’ll have to see your health care provider in order to get them - and if you have diabetes and think you may have the flu, you should see your doctor as soon as possible.
Obviously, prevention is the best approach. Getting vaccinated, even at the late date, can be your first line of defense. Of course, you’ll also want to eat right, get enough sleep, and exercise (admittedly three tough things this time of year). Really try to stick to your diabetes regimen as well. Keeping your hands clean and paying attention to hygiene will help too.
The vaccine is created from parts of different flu viruses. It changes from year to year, based on what strains of flu epidemiologists believe will be most common in the upcoming flu season. Actually, many people may be getting their flu shots late this year due to one of the strains in this year’s shot growing much slower than expected, leading to a shortage of vaccine in some areas.
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