You may be busy picking pumpkins, raking leaves and searching for carb-friendly pumpkin pie recipes that won’t wreak havoc with your blood sugar levels, but October could also be the time of year you schedule your flu shot. The flu shot is an important vaccine for everyone, and especially for those who have Diabetes.
There are several reasons why people with Diabetes might want to go get their flu shot:
- In general, illnesses can make it harder to control your blood sugars. They might raise your sugar; but people that are sick with the flu don’t feel like eating and this can cause blood sugar levels to fall. It becomes increasingly important to monitor blood glucose levels closely when you are sick. The Dario smart meter can help you with that (Learn more on our website).
- People with Diabetes tend to have a more difficult recovery from the flu; according to the U.S. Center for Disease Control (CDC), 10,000-30,000 people with Diabetes die from the flu and pneumonia each year (a rate three times higher than the non-diabetic population).
- People with Diabetes who get the flu also have a higher incident of secondary complications as well as hospitalizations. This is because diabetes can make the immune system less able to fight infections.
October is the best month to get the flu vaccine. The flu season can start as early as October, but will peak December through February, so by getting your vaccine now, you can be as protected as possible from the impact on blood sugar levels. Because of the added risk people with Diabetes face and the challenges they have in controlling their blood sugar levels with the flu, early birds will help their bodies deal with the virus.
The annual flu vaccine will not protect you from every strain of the flu, but it is designed to protect you against the most likely flu viruses of the season. Getting a flu shot is relatively easy. Even if you need to contact your health provider to arrange for a flu shot, it is worth the time and effort. In the case that you do get sick, your flu vaccine can help minimize the symptoms and prevent you from having complications.
In addition to getting the flu vaccine, you can also take other preventative steps to protect yourself from the flu:
- Use warm water and soap to thoroughly wash your hands, especially if you have coughed or sneezed or been around someone who has.
- Keep your hands away from your face.
- Use a tissue or the corner of your arm at the elbow to cover your mouth when you sneeze or cough.
- Stay home when you’re not well to limit contact with others.
For more information about why the flu shot is important if you have Diabetes, download this brochure from the CDC:
http://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/projects/pdfs/eng_brochure.pdf.
Let us know if you have received your flu shot this year. Stop by The Dario Lounge on Facebook and encourage others to get a flu shot this month so we can all have a cozy and healthy winter!