Can Diabetes Cause Pneumonia? – 7 Ways to Prevent Pneumonia

What is pneumonia? It happens to be a serious illness that is a leading cause in children as well as adults all over the planet. But diabetes with pneumonia is extremely serious because this disease is caused by a bacteria or a germ that is able to attack many parts of your body. Once these bacteria enter the lungs they begin to cause the most widely known form of bacterial pneumonia. Can Diabetes Cause Pneumonia?

What Happens When You have Diabetes with Pneumonia?

Pneumonia

Diabetes causes folks to often have a weakened immune system. When you smoke, follow an unhealthy lifestyle, and eat fatty foods, then these are all negative things that affect them lungs in diabetic people.

So if you have diabetes and especially type 1 diabetes, then your immune system has a decreased ability to deal with and respond to any type of infections.

People with diabetes especially type 1 are more prone to sickness than most of the general population. And of because of this folks who are diabetic have a much bigger chance of getting the flu, catching a cold, or other illnesses that are contagious.

This results in it taking much longer to recover as well. This in turn changes the managing of your diabetes overall and it has a notable effect on your blood glucose levels too.

There are two of the most sizable infections on the lungs and they are tuberculosis and pneumonia. These two bad boys can really wreak havoc on your health. Pneumonia shouldn’t be too much of a serious concern in someone who is healthy and should only be annoying and uncomfortable for a couple of weeks at most, but with diabetes it’s a different story.

While pneumonia is an infection of the lungs, it has many symptoms which are extremely uncomfortable including: fever, coughing, nausea, chest pain, and problems with breathing. When you have the sacs of your lungs filled with fluid, this is pneumonia. Viral pneumonia usually has less symptoms and clears up quicker then bacterial pneumonia.

Pneumonia in a Diabetic Person

When you have diabetes, your lungs are not able to fight off attacks from infection as well because your body is always prone to attacks and this isn’t the case as when you’re not a diabetic. With diabetes your blood glucose being unbalanced can lead to increased inflammation and a rather poor immune response. Diabetes without a doubt will put you at a higher risk for pneumonia.

Man Coughing

So pneumonia doesn’t have to be a death sentence as long as you take care of your blood sugar levels and your diabetes as best as you can. It is extremely important to monitor your blood glucose on a regular basis. Studies were performed and patients with high sugar levels were less likely to recover from the illness.

It’s so much more important to get a pneumonia shot when you have diabetes that if you didn’t have it. The risk of dying in the hospital from pneumonia with diabetes is about 23% more according the the Diabetes Care journal.

Your risk of contracting pneumonia can be affected by whether or not you smoke, how much you exercise, and your vitamin D levels. Researchers found that low vitamin D levels make you a greater risk for pneumonia.

Pneumonia FAQ’s

Who is at risk for pneumonia?

Just about anyone can experience pneumonia unfortunately. People in the age group over 65 are the most at risk, especially when your immune system is weaker from leukemia, cancer, sickle cell disease, heart, lung, and kidney disease or HIV . The older you get the weaker your immune system becomes normally.

What About Getting a Pneumonia Shot?

Anyone over two years of age should get a pneumonia shot. Folks who are older with medical conditions that are chronic such as heart, liver, or kidney disease, diabetes, and alcoholism. Also people with sickle cell disease and those who do not have a spleen that functions.

If you have an HIV infection or cancer that has been caused by a weakened immune system or are a resident of a long term or chronic care establishment, then you should be getting one.

Who Should Avoid?

Anyone who had a pneumonia shot previously and had a reaction to it should definitely avoid getting another one. Then pneumonia shot should also not be administered to people going through chemotherapy, radiation, and to children under the age of two.

How Often?

People under the age of 65 and those individuals with the highest risk for pneumonia may require more than one shot but if you’re over 65, then you’ll never need more than one shot.

Flu and Pneumonia Shot Simultaneously? 

You are able to get both shots at the same time. It would be wise to get the pneumonia shot at the time of year when you get your flu shot. It shouldn’t matter what time of the year that you get them although flu shots are probably best getting in the fall before winter sets in.

How is it treated?

Pneumonia is treated with the antibiotic penicillin. Years ago there were some types on pneumonia that weren’t treated so easily with antibiotics. It’s more important than ever to get a pneumonia shot today. It’s most likely once and I get my flu shot every year without fail. I don’t want the flu or want to at least lessen the severity of it.

Watch the Video Below for More About Pneumonia

 

The Common Symptoms of Pneumonia

Woman Taking Temperature

Fever

So this inflammatory infection in the lungs, the infection can be bacterial, fungal, or viral. Pneumonia is like any other infection and comes with a high fever. Your temperature can go as high as 105 degrees Fahrenheit with the pneumonia infection worsening.

It can last between two and three weeks from the onset of infection. If you begin with a fever and feel that it could be pneumonia, get medical help right away!

Fatigue

You can experience fatigue for many different reasons. But fatigue along with  weakness and exhaustion can be signs of pneumonia. The particular fatigue that you experience can depend on how strong your immune system is, your age, and just how severe your symptoms are. Elderly folks and young children may experience worse conditions than others.

Chest Pain

Pain in the chest can occur from a buildup of fluid in the lungs that blocks the flow of oxygen in the air sacs on the lungs. Along with chest pain you can experience problems with breathing and causing abdominal tightness and pain as well.

Depending on how severe your pneumonia is, you can wind up with double pneumonia where it affects both lungs and you get a mucus buildup, a cough that gets even worse and restricted breathing which will give you even further pain in your chest.

Powerful end to diabetes

Diarrhea

Pneumonia can also affect and bother your digestive system by causing diarrhea and loose stools. It generally is unrelated to problems with your digestive system but can produce symptoms such as nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting and this can cause you to be dehydrated from losing water in your stools.

Losing Weight

When a person gets pneumonia they can experience weight loss throughout the infection. Pneumonia can really take its toll on you and wear you down and certainly have you not feeling up to par at all. This results in losing your appetite because the infection changes your metabolism and you have very little physical exertion as well as chest pain.

Sweating

When you get a fever that’s high (even up to 105 degrees), it’s your body trying to fight off the infection. Sweating it out is actually a good thing so sweat it out! I always remember as a kid when I was sick and started to sweat, I remember it as the beginning of feeling better even though it took some time 🙂

Temperature Less Than 98.6?

It’s actually a normal occurrence when you are suffering from pneumonia to have your temperature read on the low side. This is especially common in folks over the age of 65 as it is with confusion and delirium. It has to do with a weakened immune system.

The body at this point has a decrease in the ability to regulate its own temperature. This is particularly due to the fact that the infections are lowering your body’s temperature in order to stay alive.

The Chills

Chills are another very common symptom of pneumonia and the flu as well. How severe your particular symptoms are generally a sign that tells you. Getting the normal symptoms of pneumonia such as coughing, congestion, and a sore throat can be the start but once your infection gets down into your lungs, this is when you will most likely develop the chills.

Coughing

This can be one of the worse symptoms of pneumonia and it can indicate just how bad your condition may be. Add breathing difficulties to the coughing and you’ve got the beginning of pneumonia. Not treating pneumonia will only make it worse. A lot of your defense is how strong your immune system is.

7- Top Ways to Prevent Pneumonia

Washing Your Hands With Soap

1) Wash Your Hands!

I cannot emphasize this one enough! I wash my hands about 50 million times a day. In fact, I wash my hands WHILE I’m washing my hands! LOL This should be done especially after using the restroom, blowing your nose, or before preparing or eating food.

2) Tobacco

Get rid of it no matter what and how. Smoking and such damages your lung’s capacity to fight off any infection including pneumonia.

3) Vaccination

Get your pneumonia shot at least once. But just as important, get your flu shot each year to prevent the flu because not only does this help to prevent the flu, it also helps in preventing pneumonia too.

4) Sleep

Getting enough sleep is just a healthy thing to do anyway but getting your 7-8 hours is critical helps in warding off infections.

5) Drink

Water! Not alcohol. Nice try! 🙂 It’s vital for survival to drink 6-8 glasses of water every day. You have to stay hydrated at any cost. This is especially the case when you have pneumonia or any illness.

6) See Your Doctor!

Visit the doctor regularly and keep on top of your health. You would rather prevent than to treat something!

7) Stop Smoking

If you’re a smoker you run a higher risk of pneumonia because the ability of your lungs to fight infection are greatly diminished.

Treating Pneumonia

  • Gargle with salt water to relieve irritation and to get rid of mucus in the throat.
  • Tea- Have fresh tea or green tea and add honey or lemon
  • Soup- I love having soup when I’m not feeling well and it does wonders!
  • Coffee– It can help if you’re having problems with breathing and shortness of breath.
  • Turmeric tea- This contains many anti-inflammatory properties than can help give you relief from pain.

Final Thoughts

Can Diabetes Cause Pneumonia? Now you know that diabetes with pneumonia is extremely serious. I hope that you never get pneumonia at all. It could be deadly. But if you are diabetic, the best thing you can do is to control your blood sugar.

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Home » Health Tips » Can Diabetes Cause Pneumonia? – 7 Ways to Prevent Pneumonia

Rob Sciubba

Rob Sciubba - Founder of NaturalWaystoLowerBloodSugar.com

Rob is an blogger who has type 2 diabetes and wants to spread the word treating diabetes. For the past 3 years he has provided valuable information about diabetes and lowering blood sugars and continues to offer additional ways to treat diabetes.

If you’re serious about treating your diabetes and lowering your blood sugars the natural ways, then you will learn from his website.

6 thoughts on “Can Diabetes Cause Pneumonia? – 7 Ways to Prevent Pneumonia”

  1. An interesting read.
    I would have liked to hear more about diet – especially in relation to the diabetes/pneumonia connection. I think diet plays a huge roll in the majority of our ailments.
    There are those who will argue against vaccinations – with some seemingly valid points. The jury is out on this one.
    I’m just glad i have never had pneumonia.
    Thanks for an interesting read

    Reply
    • Thanks Lawrence,

      Eating healthy in general is the way to go with diabetes and it helps a great deal with pneumonia

      You can check out the “food” category on the website for individual benefits.

      I don’t agree with the jury being out on vaccinations.

      Vaccinations are important and do help against diseases such as pneumonia and the flu.

      Thank you for your comments and I hope that you never get pneumonia as you stated 🙂

      Reply
  2. Hi Rob, thank you for this good and very informative post about pneumonia and diabetes.

    I really found this article interesting and never knew the tip about drinking coffee. It does show you just how much you are able to learn from people’s posts. I never knew that people with diabetes are more at risk of getting pneumonia. I certainly would have no hesitation about sending people to your post here so they are able to get any tips if they are feeling ill and think they could possibly have pneumonia,

    Reply
    • Hi Cheryl,

      There are many things that can cause diabetes and pneumonia.

      And yes people with diabetes do have a higher risk of developing pneumonia. 

      It’s important to try and educate folks when it comes to diseases such as pneumonia and diabetes.

      I do hope that folks learn something from my article. Your health is the most important thing in your life.

      Thank you for your input!

      ~Rob

      Reply
  3. You have an interesting article, I was surprised about the body lowering it’s temperature to fight infection, we are all familiar with it raising our temperature. I didn’t realize that vitamin D was such a factor for getting pneumonia. The information that a person could get more that one pneumonia shot was surprising also, especially if it is done for prevention.

    Reply
    • Hey Linda,

      I wrote about pneumonia because I felt it was very important. And you’re right, it does seem different that your body temperature would lower instead of go higher but that’s because of your immune system.

      As far as vitamin D in getting pneumonia, it only means that if you are deficient in vitamin D, your chances are higher that you could develop it.

      You may possibly require more than one shot before 65 but not necessarily.

      Thank you for commenting!

      Cheers!

      ~Rob

      Reply

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