“Why People with Diabetes Need More Influenza Vaccinations: Insights from PERKENI Chairperson Ketut Suastika”

Liputan6.com, Jakarta – People with diabetes tend to be more susceptible to influenza than people in general. Unlike ordinary people, the immune system of diabetic patients has problems (dysregulation). This was conveyed by the Chairperson of the Indonesian Endocrinology Association (PERKENI) Ketut Suastika.

“There is dysregulation, there are things that are wrong in the immunity of diabetes patients. Simply put, the blood cells or body soldiers of diabetic patients are problematic,” said Ketut in a media meeting with PT Kalventis Sinergi Farma at Pasar Minggu Hospital, South Jakarta, Thursday (11/5/2023).

Therefore, they need more influenza vaccination than people who do not have diabetes.

Influenza needs to be prevented by vaccines because this is not the common cold. This disease can cause various complications, especially for the elderly (elderly).

Meanwhile, diabetes if not controlled can also cause complications.

“Diabetes itself can cause complications, risk factors for cardiovascular diseases and infections. Not only influenza, but also various other infections such as lung infections and urinary tract infections.”

Not only are they easy to get infected and get sick, generally if a diabetic patient gets an infection, the disease tends to be more severe than those experienced by non-diabetics.

This can be seen from experience when COVID-19 cases in the world and Indonesia were high.

“Most of the deaths from COVID-19 are contributed by diabetes patients,” said Ketut.