Diabetes is on the rise in Mexico, and it is crucial for affected individuals to understand the relationship between this condition and shingles, as well as the importance of prevention through vaccination and a healthy lifestyle. In the country, the prevalence of diagnosed and undiagnosed diabetes is 18.3%, affecting approximately 14.6 million people. Without proper control, diabetes can lead to severe complications such as postherpetic neuralgia, a prolonged nerve pain.
Experts warn about the risk of developing shingles in people with diabetes, who have a 63% higher risk of being hospitalized for this disease compared to those without diabetes. Additionally, people with diabetes who develop shingles have a higher number of outpatient visits and are prescribed more antivirals, indicating the severity of the situation.
Dr. Gloria Huerta, senior medical manager of Vaccines at GSK Mexico, points out that diabetes compromises the immune response, thereby increasing the risk of infections and reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus. Recent studies suggest that people with diabetes have up to a 20% higher risk of developing shingles. Therefore, vaccination and adopting healthy habits are essential to prevent this disease and its potential complications in people with diabetes.
Moreover, people with diabetes who have suffered shingles face a 40% higher risk of being readmitted to the hospital and a 25% higher risk of severe complications, such as strokes and myocardial infarction. Therefore, Dr. Huerta emphasizes the importance of adopting preventive measures, such as vaccination, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle to mitigate these risks.
