Type 2 Diabetes What to Know About the COVID-19 Vaccine If You Have Diabetes By Shamard Charles, MD, MPH Shamard Charles, MD, MPH LinkedIn Twitter Dr. Shamard Charles is a physician-journalist reporting on health policy, public health initiatives, diversity in medicine, and new developments in health care research and medical treatments. Learn about our editorial process Published on March 09, 2022 Medically reviewed Verywell Health articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and healthcare professionals. These medical reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by Danielle Weiss, MD Medically reviewed by Danielle Weiss, MD LinkedIn Dr. Danielle Weiss is double board-certified in internal medicine and endocrinology. She is the founder of the Center for Hormonal Health and Well-Being in San Diego, California. Learn about our Medical Expert Board Print Table of Contents View All Table of Contents What Research Says COVID-19 Symptoms Vaccine Facts Vaccine Side Effects Frequently Asked Questions Over 34 million Americans, about 1 in 10 U.S. adults, are currently living with type 2 diabetes, with many more unaware that they have the condition. People with diabetes are more likely to get severely ill and have serious complications from COVID-19. The COVID-19 vaccine is a safe and effective way to lower your risk of serious medical complications, especially if you have diabetes. Getting vaccinated is central to lowering your risk of severe complications that can lead to hospitalization or death. This article will look at what the science says about COVID-19 and diabetes, the importance of getting vaccinated, and any potential side effects of the vaccines. Marko Geber/DigitalVision/Getty Images The Research on COVID-19 and Diabetes People living with diabetes have more severe symptoms, a worse overall prognosis, and a higher death rate when they have COVID-19. This is in part due to higher rates of pneumonia, hospitalization, and the possibility of having an exaggerated immune response, called a cytokine storm, in the presence of the virus. In addition, research shows that diabetes is a major risk factor and contributor to the severity and mortality of people with COVID-19. There are multiple reasons why including comorbidities (coexisting conditions) associated with hyperglycemia (high blood sugar), immune dysfunction, possible obesity, and hypertension (high blood pressure). People with diabetes are also two to three times more likely to be hospitalized in intensive care units for COVID-19 compared to non-diabetic patients and three to four times more likely to progress to critical or fatal disease, underscoring the importance of getting vaccinated. What to Know About Type 2 Diabetes and COVID-19 COVID-19 Symptoms If you are infected with the COVID-19 virus, you may develop a wide range of acute symptoms, typically two to 14 days after exposure, including: Fever or chillsCoughShortness of breath or difficulty breathingFatigueMuscle or body achesHeadacheLoss of smell or tasteSore throatCongestion or runny noseNausea or vomitingDiarrhea Things to Know 1) People with diabetes should get the vaccine Full vaccination, plus the booster is the most effective way to protect yourself from COVID-19. Anyone above the age of 5 years old is eligible for vaccination. Booster eligibility depends on your state, but most people over the age of 16 or 18 are eligible. Should People With Diabetes Take The COVID-19 Vaccine? 2) Vaccination alone does not eliminate your COVID risk Vaccination alone does not eliminate your risk of catching or getting sick from COVID-19, but it does reduce your risk of severe illness or medical complications. Wearing a mask in groups where the vaccination status is unknown and diligently managing your diabetes with a combination of medication and lifestyle changes are additional measures you can take to stay protected. Can You Loosen Safety Precautions After Getting the COVID-19 Vaccine? 3) There are three COVID-19 vaccines that are currently available in the United States There are many vaccine candidates available around the world, but in the United States, the three that have gained FDA approval are: Pfizer-BioNTech, available to people 5 years and olderModerna, available to people 18 years and olderJanssen/Johnson & Johnson is available to people 18 years and older What's the Update on Vaccines for COVID-19? 4) COVID vaccines are free COVID vaccines are free for everyone in the United States, whether you have diabetes or not. Vaccine Side Effects The COVID-19 vaccine has been proven safe and effective with only mild acute side effects, but approximately 50% to 90% of participants experience some adverse effects. Injection site events include pain, redness, and swelling, whereas systemic effects include fever, chills, fatigue, headache, muscle or joint pain, and nausea. Symptoms usually resolve within 48 hours. Serious adverse events are extremely rare. The most common severe side effects of the mRNA vaccines are myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle) or pericarditis (inflammation of the lining outside the heart). Both may cause symptoms of chest pain, racing heartbeat, and shortness of breath. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine may increase your risk of blood clots. All these adverse effects are exceedingly rare and should not preclude you from getting the vaccine unless specified otherwise by a healthcare professional. A Timeline of COVID-19 Vaccine Side Effects Summary People living with diabetes are at a higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19 infection, including complications such as pneumonia and hospitalization and death. If you have diabetes, getting vaccinated against COVID-19 can reduce your risk of severe illness and death. A Word From Verywell Research does not conclude that people with diabetes are more likely to get COVID-19, but studies do point to a higher likelihood in severe illness and medical complications in unvaccinated people with diabetes, underscoring the importance of immunization in this high risk group. Frequently Asked Questions Is the COVID vaccine safe? The COVID-19 vaccine has proven to be extremely safe and effective, with adverse effects occurring on an extremely rare basis. Where can you get a COVID test? Low or no-cost COVID-19 tests are available to everyone in the U.S., including the uninsured, at health centers and select pharmacies nationwide. These sites can be located using the tools on hhs.gov. Learn More: How to Order Your Free Covid Test From the Government Where can you get a COVID vaccine? You can find a COVID vaccine site near you on the website of your local or state health department, vaccine.gov, and by calling the toll-free number 1-800-232-0233. Most pharmacies, like Target, Walgreens, Rite Aid, and CVS also administer vaccines but call ahead of time to see if you need to make an appointment. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! We know healthy eating is key to help manage diabetes, but that doesn't make it easy. Our free nutrition guide is here to help. Sign up and receive your free copy! Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit 7 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Type 2 diabetes. Lima-Martínez MM, Carrera Boada C, Madera-Silva MD, Marín W, Contreras M. COVID-19 and diabetes: a bidirectional relationship. Clin Investig Arterioscler. 2021;33(3):151-157. doi:10.1016/j.arteri.2020.10.001 Abdi A, Jalilian M, Sarbarzeh PA, Vlaisavljevic Z. Diabetes and COVID-19: a systematic review on the current evidence. Diabetes Res Clin Pract. 2020;166:108347. doi:10.1016/j.diabres.2020.108347 Paquot N, Radermecker RP. COVID-19 et diabète [Covid-19 and diabetes]. Rev Med Liege. 2020;75(S1):138-145. CDC. Symptoms of COVID-19. CDC. Myths and facts about COVID-19 vaccines. Polack FP, Thomas SJ, Kitchin N, et al. Safety and efficacy of the BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 vaccine. N Engl J Med. 2020;383(27):2603-2615. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa2034577