Flu jab warning for diabetics

People with diabetes in Kent are being urged to make sure they have their flu jab this winter.
The Dartford, Gravesham and Swanley Clinical Commissioning Group has issued a plea to diabetics and people with other long-term conditions after worrying figures showed that so far less than a third (28.9 per cent) of those at higher risk of health complications have had their winter flu vaccination.
People with type 1 or type 2 diabetes who catch flu (influenza) are more vulnerable to chest infections, dehydration and other more serious complications such as ketoacidosis.
Having the flu can also make diabetes management more difficult as the feelings of illness can mask changes in blood gluocse levels. For this reason, it is important for flu-suffering diabetics to check their blood sugars more regularly than usual.
“It’s really important for people with diabetes and other long term conditions to have their flu-jab now the weather has turned cold,” DG&S Chairman Dr Bhaskar Bora said.
“People sometimes think of flu as like a bad cold, but in fact, for some people it can be really serious.”