Diseases that diabetics can get in the rainy season

The Southern provinces are in the rainy season, with high humidity, creating a favorable environment for bacteria and viruses to grow and cause disease in humans.

MSc. Dr. Do Truc Anh, Department of Endocrinology – Diabetes, Tam Anh General Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, said that people with diabetes have high blood sugar levels that cause stress to the body, negatively affect the immune system, reduce protection, and are more susceptible to seasonal diseases than normal people.

Below are some common diseases of diabetics during the rainy season.

Skin disease

During the rainy season, bacteria are easily transmitted through water, entering the body, causing diabetics to have skin diseases. A typical example is athlete’s foot caused by Candida and Blastomyces fungi. If the patient soaks their hands and feet in water for a long time, it will damage the spaces between the toes. If not treated promptly, it can cause widespread ulcers and infections. Some other common skin diseases during the rainy season are pyoderma, fungus, scabies…

If the patient’s immune system is weakened, along with high blood sugar, the wound will take a long time to heal, easily causing serious infections and diabetic foot complications.

Malaria, dengue fever

Continuous rain for many days creates stagnant water, creating a breeding ground for mosquitoes. Anopheles mosquitoes often carry malaria viruses, which can infect humans. Not only diabetics, normal people are also at high risk of contracting malaria during the rainy season.

Dengue fever is also more common during the rainy season. The disease is caused by the Dengue virus, spread mainly by the Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes.

According to Dr. Truc Anh, people with diabetes who have malaria and dengue fever are often more serious, more likely to develop severe disease and have complications than people without diabetes. Because they have a weak immune system, high blood sugar increases the risk of inflammation and complications.

Flu, cold

Colds and flu usually go away on their own within 7-10 days without treatment. However, people with diabetes are at higher risk of getting colds and flu than people with other chronic health problems. People with diabetes have high blood sugar, which interferes with the ability of white blood cells to fight infection, and may develop more severe symptoms. The American Diabetes Association recommends that people with diabetes get a flu shot every year.

Eye inflammation

Heavy rains pollute water sources, creating favorable conditions for viruses to develop, including viruses that cause conjunctivitis. According to Dr. Truc Anh, people with diabetes are more susceptible to infections than normal people. This is largely due to blood sugar not being properly controlled, affecting the body’s immune system, reducing the ability to fight infections.

To prevent diseases caused by weather changes and seasonal changes, diabetics should protect their health by controlling blood sugar properly and exercising regularly. Supplementing vitamin C and essential minerals helps improve resistance and fight disease.

Diabetics should also avoid contact with flooded water, heavy rain, avoid mosquito bites and avoid areas with many people with malaria or dengue fever. Wear a mask in public places, avoid close contact with people with fever, colds… to prevent the risk of infection.