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- Thread starter suebee123
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Northerner
Admin (Retired)
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Hi suebee, welcome to the forum 🙂 Are you new to diabetes or just new to forums? A lot of people debate whether the flu jab is worth having or not - my personal feeling is that it is worth having, because getting the flu when you have diabetes can be much worse than any side-effect you get from the jab. Most people don't get side-effects apart from a bit of a sore arm, although this year some people also seem to have experienced elevated blood sugar levels (still probably not as bas as if they had actually got flu)..
If you are new to diabetes, I would recommend looking at our Useful links thread, in particular have a read of Jennifer's Advice and Maggie Davey's letter. I would also highly recommend Type 2 Diabetes: The First Year by Gretchen Becker which will give you a good idea of what to expect and how best to manage your diabetes.
Please ask anything that may be troubling or confusing you - nothing is considered 'silly'! 🙂
If you are new to diabetes, I would recommend looking at our Useful links thread, in particular have a read of Jennifer's Advice and Maggie Davey's letter. I would also highly recommend Type 2 Diabetes: The First Year by Gretchen Becker which will give you a good idea of what to expect and how best to manage your diabetes.
Please ask anything that may be troubling or confusing you - nothing is considered 'silly'! 🙂
margie
Moderator
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Hi Sue and welcome to the forums.
Could you speak to your Dr or practice nurse about the flu jab. They will be able to explain to you the benefits and possible side effects.
Diabetes is a high risk group - and that is why you would have been offered it.
Could you speak to your Dr or practice nurse about the flu jab. They will be able to explain to you the benefits and possible side effects.
Diabetes is a high risk group - and that is why you would have been offered it.
Copepod
Much missed Moderator
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Welcome Sue.
A practice nurse told me that they spend almost equal amounts of time explaining to people who are entitled to free flu vaccinations why they should have them as to those who aren't entitled to free ones on NHS why they can't have them.
Part of the point of having a flu vaccines is so that you don't get flu, which is unpleasant enough, but can be worse with diabetes as it causes increased blood glucose levels - and unless you're on insulin, there's little you can do to reduce raised levels during an infection - and another part is if you don't get infected, you can't pass the infection to anyone else who hasn't been vaccinated. The second part is why I have mine - and having given lots of vaccines to other people, I know how to hold my arm relaxed, which means minimal pain afterwards, but I always have paracetamol available in case I need them.
A practice nurse told me that they spend almost equal amounts of time explaining to people who are entitled to free flu vaccinations why they should have them as to those who aren't entitled to free ones on NHS why they can't have them.
Part of the point of having a flu vaccines is so that you don't get flu, which is unpleasant enough, but can be worse with diabetes as it causes increased blood glucose levels - and unless you're on insulin, there's little you can do to reduce raised levels during an infection - and another part is if you don't get infected, you can't pass the infection to anyone else who hasn't been vaccinated. The second part is why I have mine - and having given lots of vaccines to other people, I know how to hold my arm relaxed, which means minimal pain afterwards, but I always have paracetamol available in case I need them.
As someone new to type 2, I was diagnosed on the back of a viral illness that hung over me for well over a month. Probably not helped by undiagnosed type 2.
It's the worst I have felt and completely floored me. Now that I know I am diabetic, anything viral or flu like I want to avoid if it makes me feel like that.
At the end of the day, it's personal choice, but I took the jab (even though I hate needles!) didn't even feel it. Not sure how it affected my blood sugar levels as I hadn't bought a monitor at that point.
It's the worst I have felt and completely floored me. Now that I know I am diabetic, anything viral or flu like I want to avoid if it makes me feel like that.
At the end of the day, it's personal choice, but I took the jab (even though I hate needles!) didn't even feel it. Not sure how it affected my blood sugar levels as I hadn't bought a monitor at that point.
Northerner
Admin (Retired)
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
She ought to have explained the reasons why, as a person with diabetes, you should consider it. Your surgery get a payment for every jab they make, so it's actually quite a profitable little business for them. I felt absolutely nothing when I had my jab, so don't be worried about it 🙂
trophywench
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Always have mine - after thinking one year, I won't bother - I got flu. Honestly thought I was gonna die. Dreadful. Couldn't eat, that's how everyone knew I must be bad LOL Over Xmas. Too much effort to get up out of bed. I don't recommend it.
Yes she will let you have it! Dangle the arm down by your side, don't have your arm on the desk or your hand on your knee or anything, don't hunch your shoulder .... you'll think after, why did I frighten myself ? LOL
Yes she will let you have it! Dangle the arm down by your side, don't have your arm on the desk or your hand on your knee or anything, don't hunch your shoulder .... you'll think after, why did I frighten myself ? LOL
Multicat
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Had 'flu 4months after my renal transplant & diabetes diagnosis, just before it was time for 'flu jabs. NEVER AGAIN. I had a doctor coming in to see me, boy was I poorly. Never have I not been able to get out of bed alone.
Back to subject I have decided to have the jab every year.
Sorry for shouting.
Back to subject I have decided to have the jab every year.
Sorry for shouting.
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trophywench
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Multicat - someone once told me that when they had flu 'even their hair hurt' - and it's flipping true, isn't it?
Hi suebee123,
I agree with veryone else on here, definitely get the flu injection an ounce of prevention and all that. Have they also offered you the pneumonia jab? The pneumonia one is a once only injection and having had pneumonia two years ago I cannot stress how much I would recommend a simple injection rather than the physical effects of that illness.
Welcome to the forum, I am new myself and finding it very informative.
I agree with veryone else on here, definitely get the flu injection an ounce of prevention and all that. Have they also offered you the pneumonia jab? The pneumonia one is a once only injection and having had pneumonia two years ago I cannot stress how much I would recommend a simple injection rather than the physical effects of that illness.
Welcome to the forum, I am new myself and finding it very informative.
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