How does diabetes affect how I respond to a cold or flu?
Being sick by itself can raise your blood glucose. Moreover, illness can prevent you from eating properly, which further affects blood glucose. In addition, diabetes can make the immune system more vulnerable to severe cases of the flu. People with diabetes who come down with the flu may become very sick and may even have to go to a hospital. You can help keep yourself from getting the flu by getting a flu shot every year. Everyone with diabeteseven pregnant womenshould get a yearly flu shot. The best time to get one is between October and mid-November, before the flu season begins.
