Healthy Living with Diabetes:
                            The Simple Step You May Be Missing
                            While there is no cure yet for diabetes, there are steps you can take to stay healthy. You may know the basics:
                            Make time for
                                                        regular
                                                        physical activity.
                                                exercise five times per week for 30 minutes per day
                                            Eat right.
                                                eat whole grain food, protein with heart-healthy fats, fruits, and vegetables
                                            Keep up
                                                        with medical care.
                                                get regular medical, dental, and vision checkups
                                    Make time for
                                                        regular
                                                        physical activity.
                                                exercise five times per week for 30 minutes per day
                                            Eat right.
                                                eat whole grain food, protein with heart-healthy fats, fruits, and vegetables
                                            Keep up
                                                        with medical care.
                                                get regular medical, dental, and vision checkups
            But there’s an essential step you may be missing: staying up to date with vaccines. Why is Vaccination Important for
                            People with Diabetes?
                    Each year, thousands of adults in the United States get sick from diseases that could have been prevented by vaccines. Because diabetes can make it harder for your immune system to fight some infections, you may be at higher risk
                            of getting certain diseases if you are living with diabetes.
                    artifactartifact
                    Additionally, people with diabetes are also at higher risk of serious problems from some vaccine-preventable diseases.
                        artifactPeople with diabetes are at an increased risk for severe complications, and even death, from some infections.
                            artifactIt can be harder to control your blood sugar levels when you are ill.
                    Your blood sugar may be high when you are sick. However, sometimes people don’t feel like eating when they are sick, and this can cause blood sugar levels to fall. It’s important to monitor your blood sugar more often when you
                            are sick. What Vaccines do People with
                                Diabetes Need?
            Influenza vaccine
                                                artifact
                                    Influenza vaccine
                                                artifactartifact
                                                Flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses.
                                                    People with diabetes, even when well managed, are at high risk of serious flu complications, often resulting in hospitalization and sometimes even death.
                                                artifactPotential complications from the flu include pneumonia, bronchitis, sinus infections, and ear infections.
                                                When you are sick with the flu, it may be harder to control your blood sugar. When you are sick, you need to monitor your blood sugar more often.
                                                    artifact
                                                A flu shot every year is the single best way to protect yourself from the flu. If you do have flu-like symptoms, talk to a doctor as soon as possible to begin taking antiviral medication (prescription medicines
                                                    that may help you fight the flu or shorten how long you have the flu).
                                Tdap vaccine
                                                artifact
                                    Tdap vaccine
                                                The Tdap vaccine protects against three serious diseases caused by bacteria:
                                                artifact
                                                            Tetanus causes painful muscle tightening and stiffness. It kills about 1 out of 10 people who are infected, even after receiving medical care.
                                                    artifact
                                                            Diphtheria causes a thick coating to form in the back of the throat and can lead to breathing problems, heart failure, paralysis, and death.
                                                    artifact
                                                            Pertussis 
                                                                (Whooping Cough)
                                                                 causes severe coughing spells, which can cause difficulty breathing, vomiting, and disturbed sleep.artifactartifactartifact
                                                CDC recommends all adults get the Tdap vaccine once and a Td vaccine booster dose every 10 years, to protect against tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis.
                                                    artifact
                                Zoster vaccine
                                                artifact
                                    Zoster vaccine
                                                
                                                artifact
                                                    Shingles is a painful rash caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox. After a person recovers from chickenpox, the virus stays in the body. Years later, it may cause shingles.
                                                Almost 1 out of every 3 people in the United States will develop shingles, also known as zoster or herpes zoster, in their lifetime.
                                                    artifact
                                                artifactartifact
                                                        For some people, the pain can last for months or even years after the rash goes away — known as post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN).
                                                    There are an estimated
                                                            **1 MILLION** Cases of shingles each year in this country.
                                                
                                                artifact
                                                    Herpes zoster vaccine is approved for people age 50 years and older. CDC recommends vaccination. Zoster vaccine reduces the risk of developing shingles and PHN in people who have been vaccinated. People
                                                        with very weak immune systems should not get the zoster vaccine.
                                Pneumococcal vaccine
                                                artifact
                                    Pneumococcal vaccine
                                                artifact
                                                    Pneumococcal disease is an infection caused by pneumococcus bacteria.
                                                        Each year in the United States, pneumococcal bacteria causes thousands of infections, including:
                                                artifactBACTEREMIA
                                                            (blood infection)
                                                        MENINGITIS
                                                            (infection of the lining of the brain and spinal cord)
                                                        EAR INFECTIONS
                                                        PNEUMONIA
                                                            (lung infection)
                                                People with diabetes are at increased risk for death from pneumonia, bacteremia, and meningitis.
                                                artifact
                                                    CDC recommends people with diabetes get pneumococcal vaccines once as an adult before 65 years of age and then two more doses at 65 years or older.
                                Hepatitis B vaccine
                                                artifact
                                    Hepatitis B vaccine
                                                artifact
                                                    Hepatitis B is a liver infection caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV) and transmitted through blood or other body fluid.
                                                artifactChronic hepatitis B can lead to serious health issues, such as cirrhosis or liver cancer.
                                                    artifactPeople with type 1 or type 2 diabetes have a higher risk of hepatitis B virus infection.
                                                Hepatitis B can be spread through sharing of blood sugar meters, finger stick devices, or other diabetes care equipment, such as insulin pens. To prevent hepatitis B infection, never share diabetes care
                                                        equipment.
                                                    artifactartifactartifact
                                                The best way to prevent hepatitis B is by getting vaccinated.
                                                    CDC recommends hepatitis B vaccination for all unvaccinated adults with diabetes who are younger than 60 years of age. Many people have had the hepatitis B vaccine as a child, so check with your doctor
                                                        to see if you have been vaccinated already. If you are 60 years or older, talk to your doctor to see if you should get hepatitis B vaccine.


Making a Plan for
                        Vaccination  If you have diabetes, talk with your doctor about the vaccines you need. Print CDC’s easy vaccine guide and bring it to your next appointment, along with any questions you’d like to discuss.
 print vaccine guide
 Share this infographic with family and friends: 
   Learn more about diabetes and vaccination CDC Logo