3 Things You Need to Know About Flu Shots and Diabetes
While summer allergies may subside with the cooler fall weather, flu season is right around the corner.
For diabetics and people with other chronic health problems, getting the flu can be dangerous - which is why the American Diabetes Association (ADA) recommends that every person with diabetes get a flu shot each year.
Here are three things you need to know about getting a flu shot that will help you manage "sick season" as a diabetic:
1. Get your flu shot now.
According to the ADA, the best time to get a flu shot is September. Since the flu shot takes about 2 weeks to take effect, the earlier you get the shot the better your chances will be when it comes to avoiding illnesses that often spread quickly in the fall and winter months.
Flu shots last for about 6 months, but it's also a good idea to have the people you live with get flu shots, too, as it will decrease your odds of catching any viruses.
2.Get a pneumonia shot, too.
If you have diabetes, your risk of death from flu and pneumonia is higher.
Pneumonia shots are recommended for anyone with diabetes over the age of 2, the ADA says. If it's been 5 years since your last vaccine or if you are over 65, it's recommended you get another pneumonia shot this flu season.
You can get a pneumonia shot any time of year.
3. Take other preventative measures.
The flu shot isn't 100 percent effective in preventing illness, so you should also take preventative measures to stay healthy during flu season if you have diabetes.
Wash your hands often, use hand sanitizers when you've touched things in public places and avoid rubbing your eyes or touching your nose or mouth without clean hands.
If you have flu symptoms, check in with your doctor to make sure you can treat the virus quickly while managing your diabetes safely.
Source: American Diabetes Association
Image courtesy of stockimages/FreeDigitalPhotos.net
More Articles
With its slightly nutty flavor, chewy texture, and nutritional punch farro is an ancient whole grain worth a place in our pantry.
Farro...
Having diabetes is cause for concern, however it doesn’t mean that you need to eliminate all of your favorite foods from your diet completely....
With diabetes becoming more of an epidemic each and every day, being knowledgeable about the disease, its effects on the body as well as ways to...
If you’re a diabetic or live with one, it can be tough trying to figure out the best foods to eat because your priority is to control your blood...
In this post, I will show you the 10 best ice creams for diabetics.
When you think of sweetened foods that a diabetic shouldn’t consume,...
More Articles
If you’re living with diabetes, snacking is a necessity because going for more than 3-4 hours without eating can be detrimental to your health....
For diabetics, choosing healthy snacks can be a daunting task.
A good rule of thumb is to pick out snacks that are rich in protein, fiber,...
According to information available through the National Institutes of Health, there’s an estimated 462 million people in the world who are...
Eleven Clinical Studies
After eleven clinical studies and 300,000 participants, researcher Vasanti Malik and her team of researchers...
Diabetic women often have a harder time losing weight than non-diabetic women. A study funded by Jenny Craig proved that diabetic women have an...
Many recent studies have proved that magnesium levels are lower in patients with diabetes than in non-diabetics. This magnesium...
Fluid retention, also known as edema, is a problem that affects many diabetics, especially those with type 2 diabetes...
Some of us might be thrilled if we could manage our blood sugar by sitting in a hot tub or sauna, instead of working up a sweat biking, or using...
Cooking and baking with the ancient cereal grain sorghum has health benefits for people with diabetes, and those with weight control issues....
When it comes to certain foods, there are always questions as to whether or not a diabetic can have them without...
Matcha tea is a rich, creamy, full-bodied beverage with amazing nutritional properties that address several diabetes health concerns.
The...
Salads are good example of foods that type 2 diabetics can enjoy with relatively low guilt. With the right greens and other elements added, salad...
Remaining gainfully employed is important to many people. Those who live with any form of diabetes may find that some lines of work are more...
Learning that you have diabetes does mean making some lifestyle changes. One of the areas that needs attention is your diet. Most people find that...
One of the more challenging aspects of life as a type 2 diabetic is managing your diet. There’s often the temptation to avoid certain foods...