Diabetes Care Community

Tag: immune system

  • 7 ways to boost your immune system if you have diabetes

    7 ways to boost your immune system if you have diabetes

    [vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]

    What is the immune system?

    The immune system plays an important role in your body. It protects you from harmful agents that could make you ill.

    The main tasks of the body’s immune system are to:

    • Fight disease-causing bacteria, viruses or parasites and remove them from the body
    • Recognize and neutralize harmful substances from the environment
    • Fight disease-causing changes in the body, such as cancer cells

    If your immune system stops working properly – because it’s weak or can’t fight germs – you have a higher risk of illness. Read on to learn more about diabetes and the immune system.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text][ad-slot slotcode=’div-gpt-ad-lb-resp-cont1′][/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]

    The immune system and diabetes

    Differences between type 1 and type 2 diabetes

    Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease, which means the body attacks beta cells in the pancreas that are responsible for making insulin. While type 1 affects the part of the immune system that makes your pancreas work properly, it doesn’t affect the entire immune system. This means that people with type 1 diabetes do not necessarily have a weaker immune system than those who don’t have the disease.

    Type 2 diabetes happens when the body becomes resistant to insulin or when the pancreas is unable to produce enough insulin. It is not an autoimmune disease.

    Whether you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes, the important thing to remember regarding your immune system and protection against infections is blood sugar control. If you maintain healthy blood sugar control, your immune system will operate efficiently. This means that a person with diabetes who maintains healthy blood glucose control is no more or less likely to get a cold or the flu than a person who doesn’t have the disease.

    However, people with poorly controlled diabetes are more susceptible to contracting viruses or developing other infections, since high blood sugar levels can weaken the immune system’s defenses. Diabetes-related complications, such as nerve damage and reduced blood flow to the extremities, have also been shown to increase the body’s vulnerability to infections.

    Diabetes and its relationship to infections, including COVID-19

    If your diabetes is well-controlled, your immune system is likely working very well and you do not have a greater risk of infections from viruses, including COVID-19. In other words, living with type 1 or type 2 diabetes does not put you at greater risk for getting an infection. However, COVID-19 can cause more severe complications for some people living with diabetes, especially the elderly, those with cardiovascular disease or those who are obese. In addition, poorly controlled blood sugar has been found to contribute to COVID-19-associated hospitalizations for people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes.[/vc_column_text][read-also-article article-slug=”the-top-10-differences-between-type-1-and-type-2-diabetes”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text][ad-slot slotcode=’div-gpt-ad-lb-resp-cont2′][/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]

    Here are 7 ways to boost your immune system

    You can help protect yourself against viruses – such as influenza and COVID-19 – by improving your diet and lifestyle factors. A balanced immune system will make your body better prepared to fend off attacking viruses. Here are some ways you can help boost your immune system:

    1.Exercise regularly. A consistent regimen of moderate exercise can give your immune system a boost. It can also reduce inflammation and help your immune cells regenerate. Aim for 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week.

    2.Maintain a healthy weight. Some studies have shown that being overweight or obese can increase your risk of illness. In one study, people with obesity who got a flu shot were twice as likely to still get the flu than leaner individuals who got the vaccine.

    3.Stop smoking or vaping. The effects of tobacco smoke on the immune system include a higher risk of infections such as pneumonia and the flu, and lower levels of protective antioxidants (such as vitamin C) in the blood. When you do quit, immune function begins to improve within 30 days.

    4.Drink alcohol in moderation. Excessive alcohol consumption can suppress a person’s immune system, putting them at higher risk for infections. Alcohol can also trigger inflammation in the gut and destroy the microorganisms that live in the intestine and maintain immune system health. According to the Diabetes Canada guidelines, alcohol consumption should be limited to fewer than 10 drinks per week for women and fewer than 15 drinks per week for men.

    5.Get enough sleep. Insufficient sleep and poor-quality sleep are both linked to a higher risk of illness. One study showed that adults who slept fewer than six hours each night were more likely to catch a cold or the flu than those who slept more than six hours each night. Getting adequate rest may strengthen your natural immunity: aim for seven or more hours of sleep each night.

    6.Try to minimize stress. Long-term stress promotes inflammation, as well as imbalances in immune cell function. Prolonged psychological stress can suppress your body’s natural immune response to infection. Lowering your stress levels through exercise, meditation or yoga can help keep your immune system functioning properly.

    7.Eat healthy foods. Good nutrition is important for maintaining a healthy immune system[/vc_column_text][read-also-article article-slug=”7-foods-that-may-boost-your-immune-system/”][/vc_column][/vc_row]

  • 7 foods that may boost your immune system

    7 foods that may boost your immune system

    [vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]No single food or vitamin, by itself, can boost your immunity. That’s why it’s important to follow a healthy diet overall.

    While there are several healthy living habits that can help strengthen your immune system, following a nutrient-rich diet can also help make you less susceptible to infection or illness. Check out these foods that may help boost your immune system.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text][ad-slot slotcode=’div-gpt-ad-lb-resp-cont1′][/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

    Fruits

    Almost all citrus fruits are high in vitamin C, which increases the body’s production of white blood cells to help fight infection. Grapefruit, oranges, clementines and tangerines are all excellent sources of vitamin C.[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”19796″ img_size=”full”][vc_column_text]

    Yogurt and kefir

    These milk products are packed with probiotics, the ‘good’ bacteria that can stimulate the immune system. Probiotics have been shown to help prevent cold and flu symptoms or shorten the course of illness if you do get sick. Look for yogurt or kefir with added vitamin D, as people with low levels of this vitamin may be more susceptible to colds or the flu.[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”19799″ img_size=”full”][vc_column_text]

    Leafy green vegetables

    Spinach, kale, cabbage and broccoli are all leafy greens that pack a nutritional and immune-boosting punch. Spinach especially is a good choice as it contains folate, which helps your body make new cells and repair DNA. It also contains vitamin C, an antioxidant. Broccoli is also an excellent choice, as it contains plenty of vitamins A and C, and the antioxidant glutathione.[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”19800″ img_size=”full”][vc_column_text]

    Orange vegetables

    Carrots and sweet potatoes contain plenty of beta-carotene, which your body converts into vitamin A. This helps bolster the immune system.[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”19801″ img_size=”full”][read-also-article article-slug=”10-fruits-and-vegetable-for-diabetes-diet/”][vc_column_text]

    Garlic

    This pungent kitchen staple doesn’t just add flavour to food. It also helps fight bacteria and viruses. That’s because it contains natural sulfur compounds, which increase the production and activity of many immune cells, including white blood cells and antibodies.[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”19802″ img_size=”full”][vc_column_text]

    Fish and shellfish

    Salmon contains vitamin D, a nutrient that triggers and arms the body’s T-cells (immune cells that kill invading bacteria and viruses, including the flu virus). Salmon is also a good source of protein and vitamin B6, also needed for healthy immune function. Oysters are chock full of zinc, a mineral that is critical to the development and action of immune cells.[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”19803″ img_size=”full”][vc_column_text]

    Nuts and seeds

    Brazil nuts contain selenium, which supports the immune system by increasing natural killer cells (white blood cells that destroy viruses). Sunflower seeds contain vitamin E, an antioxidant that enhances the body’s production of immune cells.[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”19804″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][read-also-article article-slug=”7-ways-to-boost-your-immune-system-if-you-have-diabetes”][/vc_column][/vc_row]