When the flu season comes upon us, there are a lot of people debating whether they need to get a flu shot this time around the year or whether they can give it a miss. The truth of the matter is that we all know that getting flu is not that much fun. In fact, simply put, catching the flu can be a downright miserable experience. But for those who are diabetic to add to it, the combination of diabetes and flu can be deadly (and that is not just a figure of speech, I mean literally ‘fatal’). In the case of diabetes, the flu could mean more than just your usual cough, body ache and runny nose. It would mean severe complications that could even threaten your life.
As per the medical portal WebMD, influenza is a viral infection affecting the respiratory system and the muscles. The symptoms of the flu would usually come on pretty abruptly. It is almost always known to hit you when you least expect it. Some common flu symptoms would include severe aches, high fever, pain in the muscles and the joints, ill appearance, flushed skin, headaches, sore throat, dry cough, runny nose and generalized weakness.
As for the combination of diabetes and flu, the diabetic might have to deal with additional symptoms like added stress on the body. This would end up raising their blood sugar levels and would increase their chances of having life-altering complications. If you contract the flu, it would normally mean a loss of appetite, and this would further the changes in blood glucose levels.
In the year 2009, the flu was on the front page of your newspapers every 2nd day. A lot of people considered getting the flu shot to try and save themselves from the H1N1 virus that was doing the rounds. At that point in time, there was difficulty obtaining the flu shot; and this was because the makers of the shot were having a tough time keeping up with the demands of the public. In the year 2010, however, it is a different ball game. The flu shots are more readily available. The flu shots available this year around also have added protection, in terms of giving you protection from the H1N1 virus of 2009 and two other newer flu viruses.
The White House is said to be encouraging people to take the flu shots, especially if they’re diabetic, because of the changes the flu could bring in their glucose levels.
As per health experts, another possible complication owing to flu could be pneumonia. Consequently, a vaccine that protects you from pneumonia should also be made part of the diabetes management plan, state experts.
Diabetes And Flu – What To Do When The Flu Strikes?
If you have contracted the flu, and are a diabetic patient, here are some tips for you –
- Ensure that you continue taking your insulin and diabetes pills. Do not stop taking them even if you do not have an appetite and haven’t been eating properly. Your doc might even suggest that you go onto higher doses of insulin when flu strikes.
- Try and test your blood glucose levels once in every four hours. Keep a tab on the results.
- Consume extra liquids (calorie-free) and try and eat food as you would have under normal circumstances. If you cannot eat normally, try and consume soft foods and try to equal the amount of carbohydrates that you would have consumed under better circumstances.
Weigh yourself on a daily basis. If you realize that you’ve lost a large amount of weight without attempting to have done so, it might imply that your blood glucose levels are extremely high.- This flu season ensure that you and your loved ones are protected against the evils of flu; and take extra care if you’re diabetic yourself.
