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COVID-19 Vaccine: Protect Your Health

As someone with type 2 diabetes, you may already know the bad news: type 2 diabetes, especially if it’s not well managed, increases your chance for severe complications if you get COVID-19.

Now, the really, really (really!) good news we’ve waited for, we have a safe and effective vaccine for COVID-19. Did you hear that? A time when you can hug loved ones and avoid mentally measuring six feet from strangers is in sight! We’re so close to this future now that we have a proven way to help prevent this unpredictable and devastating virus that has taken so many lives and upturned millions of others.

What do I need to do?

You’ve already done so much. You’ve been diligent about managing your diabetes. You’ve been following the COVID-19 prevention playbook: Wear a mask! Wash your hands! Avoid crowds! Now it’s time to add one more, get the vaccine when it’s available to you. Everyone will still need to stick with the COVID-19 prevention playbook and keep conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure well managed to beat the virus, but you can think of getting the vaccine as your not-so-secret weapon.

“Every day we are putting in the work to try to eat right, to try to move, to try to take care of ourselves. Getting the COVID-19 vaccine is part of that. I’ve seen friends deal with COVID and family with COVID. If I have a choice to prevent it, I will try. Because at the end of the day, I want to know I did everything that I could to be healthy. There are so many people that depend on me to be well.”
– Lupe, a person living with diabetes

Does it work?

The medical experts at the American Heart Association® (AHA) and the American Diabetes Association® (ADA) agree with scientists around the world that the COVID-19 vaccine is the most powerful tool we have to protect ourselves and our loved ones from its potential severe complications. This is the number one thing that will get us back to the life we miss.

“I want to get the vaccine as soon as it’s available. I know a lot of people out there are skittish about vaccinations. But in very big clinical trials these vaccines have shown efficacy rates of 95% or even higher. That’s an A+ in my book.”
– Joey, a heart disease survivor living with diabetes

Is it safe?

Yes, the COVID-19 vaccine is safe. Each available vaccine has gone through rigorous testing and been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It’s safe for people of color, people with diabetes, people with a history of heart disease or stroke, and other underlying health issues such as chronic kidney disease, all of whom were part of the trials. Of course, if you have questions that pertain to a unique situation, contact your doctor’s office now to ask if you should and when you’re able to get it.

“I can tell you I’ve registered for the vaccine and I’m not hesitant at all about taking it because I understand the risks associated with my diabetes and COVID.”
– Annette, a person living with diabetes

With all that’s changed over the last year, one thing has remained the same—at both the AHA and the ADA, your health is our number one priority and that one thing drives everything we do.

You can find more information about the COVID-19 vaccine from the AHA and from the ADA on our websites.