How Does Diabetes Increase Risk of Infection?

Infections and infectious diseases are more frequent and often more serious in persons with diabetes.

 Read
Join Helpful now
Get more personalized support for free with Helpful.

Get insurance benefits, legal documents, and medical records in one place

Diabetes and Infection

Helpful Highlights

The number of risk factors for infection increases with diabetes. Persons with diabetes experience unique physiological effects that make them more susceptible to infections. These effects also reduce their ability to fight them.

Neuropathy and reduced blood flow

Especially in those who have had diabetes for a long time, nerve damage and reduced blood flow to their lower legs, feet, and hands are common. This increases the chance of infection because of poor tissue health in those areas.

What you can do: Daily skin checks, lots of massaging and moisturizing, encourage hydration (preferably water), and get your loved one active.

High blood sugar levels

A high level of sugar circulating in the blood (hyperglycemia) contributes to infection in a few ways.

What you can do: Ensure regular blood sugar checks, plan diabetes-friendly grocery lists and meal prep, help with medication adherence, and get your loved one active.

Immune response dysfunction

There are several ways that diabetes impairs a person's defense against pathogens. (These are in no particular order.)

What you can do: Check that everyone performs routine hand hygiene, keep actively ill people away, and ensure your loved one gets the necessary vitamins and nutrients to support their immune system.

Reduced sensation and delayed healing

Persons with diabetes are at high risk for problems in their lower legs and feet (you may still hear the old term, "diabetic foot"). Nerve tingling or pain and possibly numbness - called neuropathy - of the lower legs and feet greatly contribute to the risk of infection.

For persons who do not have intact sensation in these areas, they cannot feel repeated trauma like bumping, scraping, cutting, puncturing, and burning. Likewise, they may not be able to tell that their shoes are ill-fitting and causing skin tears and blistering.

Because diabetes also slows the healing process due to poor circulation and lack of immune cells, wounds may remain for extended periods, and even get worse before they start to get better.

The longer a wound persists, the more opportunity organisms have to cause infection. If these wounds, or the resulting infections, aren't treated promptly and properly, it could result in the need to amputate.

What you can do: Routine lower leg and foot checks, discourage walking barefoot, remind your loved one to check water temps with their wrist or elbow - not hands or feet, ensure proper fitting footwear (get diabetes-specific footwear, if needed), and request a referral to podiatry for foot concerns.

The most common infections in persons with diabetes

Although persons with diabetes are at higher risk for all infections, some have been identified as occurring most frequently in this population.

Infection prevention

Because infections are difficult to control and resolve in persons with diabetes, and treatment outcomes are generally poorer, we must work diligently to prevent infection altogether.

Infection prevention in persons with diabetes requires the same efforts as with any other person, with a couple of essential additions.

BASIC

ADDITIONS FOR DIABETES

Join Helpful now

RESOURCES

Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC)

Berbudi, A., Rahmadika, N., Tjahjadi, A.I., & Ruslami, R., (2020). Type 2 diabetes and its impact on the immune system. Current Diabetes Reviews, 16(5), 442-449. doi: 10.2174/1573399815666191024085838

Casqueiro, J., Casqueiro, J., & Alves, C. (2012). Infections in patients with diabetes mellitus: A review of pathogenesis. Indian Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism, 16(Suppl1), S27-S36. doi: 10.4103/2230-8210.94253

Jin Kim, E., Hwa Ha, K., Jung Kim, D., & Hwa Choi, Y. (2019). Diabetes and the risk of infection: A national cohort study. Diabetes and Metabolism Journal, 43(6), 804-814. doi: 10.4093/dmj.2019.0071

Medscape

One and Only Campaign

Reynolds, S. (2020, September 29). Poor immune response impairs diabetic wound healing. NIH Research Matters. Retrieved from: https://www.nih.gov/news-events/nih-research-matters/poor-immune-response-impairs-diabetic-wound-healing

No content in this app, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.

Get more support and guidance on insurance benefits, medical records and legal forms.

Helpful brings together your insurance benefits, legal documents, and medical records in one personalized place — so you always know what you have, and never have to search again.

banner

Simplifying Healthcare, Supporting Mental Health

An all-in-one solution to help navigate the complexities of healthcare and support for mental health, for you or your loved one.

sync

Manage All Your Health Info in One Place

Learn More

therapy

In-Network Mental Healthcare

Find a Therapist

legal

Create Legal Documents to Guide Your Care

Learn More

call insurance

Let Us Call Your Insurance So You Don't Have To

Learn More

insurance

Maximize Your Insurance Benefits

Learn More

money

Manage a Health Condition with Confidence

Learn More