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Diabetes and flu

Although it is still only Autumn, the flu season is coming and people with diabetes are at increased risk of developing complications of flu and difficulties with the impact flu may have on their diabetes. Flu is a respiratory virus and causes symptoms such as fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose and can progress to more serious illnesses, such as pneumonia.

The flu virus infects cells at the back of the nose and throat, causing congestion and/or a sore throat. It also causes inflammation of the mucus membranes inside the bronchial tubes, which carry air in and out of your lungs, causing a cough. This creates an opportunity for bacteria, normally present in our throats, to infect the lungs, causing pneumonia. People with diabetes already have difficulty fighting off various infections, so they may have difficulty mustering an appropriate inflammatory response to fight off early pneumonia and are at an increased risk of developing pneumonia from an infection. So it is very important that people with diabetes get their free flu vaccination.

How flu can affect people with diabetes
Initially the body responds to illness in the same way whether or not diabetes is present. Any infection or injury causes a stress response by increasing the levels of certain hormones, such as cortisol and adrenaline. These hormones work against the action of insulin so as a result, the body’s production of glucose increases and blood sugar levels rises, which can make you feel even worse. On top of this, high blood sugars mean that your body cannot fight infection as well as normal, so without good diabetes management, your recovery can be slower.

How to prevent flu
These steps apply to anyone looking to prevent the flu and its complications, but they are especially important for people with diabetes.

  • Get a yearly flu vaccine jab. (See below)
  • Avoid physical contact with others who are coughing or sneezing.
  • Wash your hands frequently.
  • Flu virus can live for 24 to 48 hours on surfaces, so wash surfaces with soap or other disinfectants.
  • Wear a face mask to indoor events during flu season.
  • Keep tabs on influenza spread in your community, and consider staying home if cases are high.

Flu and pneumo jabs
We are reminding you that the flu jab is offered as a priority to people in ‘at risk’ groups, which includes those with diabetes, pregnant women and the elderly. People with diabetes are eligible for both the flu and the “pneumo jab” vaccines. If you are offered both vaccines it is safe to have them at the same time.

The ‘pneumo’ jab is a vaccination to protect against pneumonia and it is available to the following groups of people:

  • children under two years of age as part of the childhood vaccination programme,
  • adults who are 65 years of age or over,
  • children and adults with certain chronic health conditions, including diabetes.

Getting vaccinated does not guarantee that you won’t get the flu but it reduces the likelihood of people with diabetes being hospitalised by 46% and of those admitted, a 26% lower risk of being admitted to intensive care.

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