Diabetes causes weakness in the immune system and this cannot fight against severe influenza, according to specialists.
Although they carry corresponding control, people with type 1 and 2 diabetes have a higher risk of developing serious diseases and complications due to influenza.
This risk is because diabetes puts the weakest immune system and cannot fight against severe influenza, explains general practitioner Martín Zabala.
An increase in blood sugar level can be given.In addition, they can lose appetite when they are sick and this will cause a decrease or an increase in glucose levels.
Infections in the sinuses and ears, even pneumonia or bronchitis, are some of the complications that influenza can cause in patients with diabetes, according to the Center for the Control of Diseases of the United States (CDC).
They also have three times more risk of dying if they suffer influenza or pneumonia, says the American Diabetes Association.
Infections such as influenza generate stress in the body that can cause the decompensation of diabetes in the patient, Reitera Néstor Sosa, general director of the Gorgas Commemorative Institute for Health Studies.
Someone with diabetes, affected by influenza, not only can have serious respiratory complications, but with this loss of diabetes control may require hospitalizations and other medical treatments.
You must go to the doctor immediately if you breathe difficult;If you feel dreamed or cannot think clearly, and if you have lost weight in a few days, the CDC warns.
Recommendations
People with diabetes must be punctual with the application of the influenza vaccine every year.
Apart from this vaccine they must take other measures to avoid influenza, specialists point out.
Among the precautions are to wash their hands frequently, not being in contact with people with influenza, not touching their eyes and mouth, among others.
On the other hand, if you have influenza you must keep rest at home so as not to complicate the ailment and so that other individuals do not get sick.
The patient should continue taking his diabetes medicines;You have to review your glucose levels three or four times a day, and eat healthy foods, advises the CDC.
Diabetes figures
In Panama, between 9% and 10% of the population suffers from diabetes, according to data from health entities.
In Centro and South America, 29.6 million live with this disease and 39% of them do not know, according to the Atlas of Diabetes of the International Diabetes Federation.
While in the world, the figure of affected by this ailment is 415 million people.