Diabetes raises your chances of getting sick, of staying sick longer, and of getting seriously ill, because it makes infections — illnesses caused by germs — harder to fight off. Here is why, and what you can do about it.
How the immune system works
Your immune system spots and fights germs that could make you sick. Its first line of defense is your skin, which keeps unwanted germs out. The second is lymphocytes, a kind of white blood cell that circulates through your body watching for bacteria, viruses, toxins and fungi, and usually fights them off before you notice.
It also builds immunity. Once it has learned to beat a particular virus, it often remembers how, so a second exposure is usually cleared faster, with fewer symptoms or none. Vaccines work by giving your immune system those instructions in advance, protecting you from severe illness.
What diabetes does to it
High blood sugar stresses the body and makes nearly every system work harder, white blood cells included, so with diabetes your immune system may be weaker and less effective. High blood sugar can also trigger inflammation, a protective immune response that can damage internal organs over time. An immune system already working hard against inflammation, and possibly weakened, has a harder time with infections. Research shows people with diabetes can get these more often:
- respiratory tract infections, flu and pneumonia
- urinary tract infections
- skin infections
Illnesses, cuts and wounds may also take longer to heal.
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disorder: the immune system mistakenly attacks part of the body. For that reason, people with type 1 may have weaker immune systems.
COVID-19 and flu. People with diabetes may be no more likely to catch them, but research shows they are more likely to become severely ill, especially when blood sugar is not well managed.
When you are sick
Blood sugar often runs higher than usual during illness, because the immune system releases hormones that raise it temporarily, and some cold and flu medicines raise it too. Fever, sweating and a poor appetite can push it the other way, too low. Check your blood sugar closely and act if it goes too high or too low.
Habits that help
- Keep blood sugar in your target range. It protects your immune system, helps prevent short- and long-term illness, and speeds recovery.
- Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, in many colors, for the vitamins and minerals your immune system needs. Ask your doctor before taking supplements.
- Stay physically active, which helps manage blood sugar and keeps your immune system strong.
- Wash your hands often; germs spread from surfaces you touch every day.
- Manage stress. High stress can make infections harder to fight and raise blood sugar. Learn your warning signs and try mindfulness, meditation or yoga — even 5 minutes helps.
- Sleep enough. Regularly getting less than 7 hours makes diabetes harder to manage and infections harder to fight.
Vaccines
Vaccines matter especially for people with diabetes. If you are not sure you are up to date, ask your doctor.
| Vaccine | Recommended for |
|---|---|
| COVID-19 | Everyone, and especially people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes: the initial dose or doses and any boosters you are eligible for |
| Hepatitis B | All adults younger than 60; especially important with type 1 or type 2 diabetes, which carries a higher risk of hepatitis B |
| Influenza (flu) | Everyone over 6 months old, every year — especially people with diabetes |
| Pneumococcal | Adults 65 or older, and adults 19 to 65 with certain conditions or risk factors, diabetes among them |
| Shingles | All adults 50 and older, even after shingles, chickenpox or the chickenpox vaccine |
| Tdap | Every 10 years, against tetanus, diphtheria and whooping cough (pertussis) |
Sources
Rewritten from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention page "Your Immune System and Diabetes" (public domain), in hubnx's own words. Its stock photograph is not reproduced.
ライセンス： CC0 1.0（パブリックドメイン） · 出典 www.cdc.gov
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