People living with diabetes should get their free NHS flu jab to reduce their risk of getting the flu.
This is because people with diabetes are at increased risk of becoming seriously ill from the flu.
What is flu?
Flu (seasonal influenza) is a common viral illness. It’s very infectious, and you can catch it all year round, but it’s more common in the winter because we spend more time together indoors.
Flu is far more than just a bad cold. The symptoms of flu often start very suddenly, are more severe and can last longer.
Why you should get the flu jab when you have diabetes
If you have diabetes and get the flu, you are more at risk of being unwell for longer and developing more serious complications like pneumonia, which can be very serious and could become an emergency requiring hospital admission.
Getting a flu jab is the most effective way to protect yourself from flu.
Flu can also make your diabetes harder to manage and cause your blood sugar levels to rise. Having the flu also increases your risk of developing a life-threatening condition called diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA).
You can’t get the flu from the flu vaccine, but it takes about two weeks to work so you could still get the flu during that time. That’s why it’s important to get the vaccine as soon as you can, ideally in autumn or early winter, before the flu starts spreading.
The flu virus can change from one winter to the next. A flu vaccine protects you against the most common types of flu currently around. As this changes each year, it means you need a new vaccine each year too.
The flu vaccine gives you the best protection against flu. They can protect you from the most common strains of flu, but not all strains, so there’s a chance you might still get the flu. However, people who have had the flu vaccine normally experience a milder illness from the flu compared with people who haven’t had it.
Douglas Twenefour, Head of Care at Diabetes UK, said:
"If you have diabetes and get the flu, you are at increased risk of becoming very unwell. We must do all we can to get protected against flu this year. That’s why the NHS flu vaccine is so important."
How is the flu jab given?
All adult flu vaccines are given as an injection (flu jab) into the muscle of the upper arm.
Most children will receive the nasal spray flu vaccine. Some children will need to have the flu jab. You can check the NHS website for the most up-to-date information about the flu vaccine.
Where and when to book your flu jab
This year’s annual flu vaccination programme began in October.
To book your flu jab you can either:
phone 119
contact your GP surgery
book a pharmacy appointment on the NHS App or online at nhs.uk/book-flu-jab
find a pharmacy at nhs.uk/flu-pharmacy.
If you live in other parts of the UK, you can find out more about the flu jab in your area below:
If you're a parent/carer of a child with diabetes
Children with long-term health conditions such as diabetes are at higher risk from flu and are eligible for the NHS flu jab.
There are different ways to get the children's flu vaccine. You can check the NHS website for the most up-to-date information about the child flu vaccine.
You can also speak about the flu vaccine with your child's school-aged immunisation service team, the nurse or GP at your doctor’s surgery, or your child's specialist.
If you can't leave your home
If you are housebound, speak to your GP as community workers may be able to come out and give you the jab at home.
Tips for getting the flu jab
You need to be aware of the following:
If you have an illness or infection and you feel like you have a fever, don’t get the flu vaccine. Wait until you’re better or speak to a healthcare professional about when to have it.
If you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to a flu vaccine or any of its ingredients you may not be able to have the vaccine, but it’s important that you speak to your doctor or nurse as there may be an alternative.
The flu vaccine is made using eggs, but if you’re allergic to eggs, you can get an ‘egg-free’ vaccine. Your healthcare professional can help you find out more about this.
If you wear a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) your flu jab should not be injected in close proximity to the sensor. This is because vaccines can cause inflammation around the injection site which may dislodge sensors and the accuracy of glucose readings from the sensor following a vaccine in the same arm has not been tested.
Possible side effects
After any vaccination, you may have side effects. This is natural and they’ll usually go after a few days. Using over-the-counter medications, like paracetamol, and drinking plenty of sugar-free drinks will help if you get a high temperature.
You might find your blood sugar levels are higher than normal. This will usually settle. But if your blood sugar levels remain consistently high, or you experience anything other than these mild side effects, you must tell your doctor or healthcare professional.
What to do if you get the flu
If you get the flu, don't delay in speaking to your doctor or nurse. They should tell you what to do if you’re unwell, and we have lots of information about it too. You might hear these called your sick day rules.
If you take an SGLT2 inhibitor tablet, you should temporarily stop this when you’re not well. This is because taking an SGLT2 inhibitor during a period of illness could increase your risk of a life-threatening condition called diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). You need to check your ketones and your blood sugars (if you've been told to do this and have the kit) and speak to your healthcare team.
It's important to know the symptoms of DKA and what to look for your healthcare team can advise you on this too.
There are also some other medications used to treat 2 diabetes or diabetes complications that might need to be stopped or changed when you’re unwell.
If you take insulin, you may need to take more when you’re not well. Follow any sick day rule advice you have been given and speak to your healthcare team for advice on your medications.
Keep warm
You really need to keep warm during the winter. Keeping warm if you have the flu can help you get better. If your house is too cold, turn up the heating to at least 18°C (65°F).
Read our diabetes and cold weather page for more information.
Keep testing your blood sugars
Being unwell can cause your blood sugar levels to go up and down. If you normally test your blood sugar, you may need to do it more often depending on your diabetes treatment.
Keep hydrated and eat
Living with diabetes and being unwell can be made worse if you don’t keep your fluids up.
Some medications mean you need to eat regularly, so try to eat a little and often. Carbohydrate-based drinks, like milk or juices, may help you manage your blood sugars alongside any medication.
Go to your GP
If your illness symptoms don’t improve, you need to see your GP. Don’t waste time. Leaving things until they get worse might lead to more serious infections.
Call our Helpline
If you’re worried about flu or the flu vaccine, as well as your GP, you can contact our helpline team on 0345 123 2399 or email helpline@diabetes.org.uk. Our trained advisors are here to support you.
COVID-19 vaccinations
From Autumn 2025, the eligibility for a COVID-19 vaccination in the UK is changing, compared to recent years.
Only the following groups of people will be offered a COVID-19 vaccination in the UK:
- adults aged 75 years and over residents in a care home for older adults
- individuals aged 6 months and over who are immunosuppressed.
Children and adults in the UK living with long-term health conditions, including diabetes, who do not fall into an eligible group will no longer be offered a COVID-19 vaccination. Read more on our COVID-19 vaccination page.
The NHS has more information on vaccinations and staying well this winter on their website.
