misswhiplash
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 210
- Type of diabetes
- Type 1
- Treatment type
- Insulin
Total agreement.
The reason diabetics are at higher risk from flu than non- diabetics is simply because their increased bg levels suppresses their immune system.
Provided we are able to maintain normal or near-normal bg levels, there is no need to inject such a questionable product.
The article below shows that last year's jab only benefited 3% of those injected, because the manufacturers chose to produce a product that protected against the wrong flu strain.
http://www.independent.co.uk/life-s...versal-protection-against-virus-10469703.html
Agreed that the jab may well not be particularly effective and also agree that it is find to have irregular it depending on preference.
However, it's not just about being more suscetible to flu (I'm pretty sure I'm not, for example - as you say, I'm fairly well controlled and, tbh, am just not the kind of person that catches things generally). It's also about the effect that flu would have if you did happen to catch it - for most people, they'd be ill and miserable for a week or two and then get better, but for someone with diabetes, no matter how well controlled, the virus would be likely to play merry hell with their blood sugars, which could well lead to more serious problems/hospitalisation etc.
Similar deal for other "free flu jab" people - the elderly, the young, asthmatics etc - it's the complications that they are worried about.