Welcome to the October edition of Access Digest. This month our theme is Diabetes and The Flu. Every year a lot of people get the flu. For most, it is an illness they can deal with, but others are more susceptible to its effects. During flu epidemics, death rates among people with diabetes increase by 5 to 15 percent. There are things you can do to protect against the flu and lessen its symptoms. If you have been considering getting a flu shot, these articles are worth reading. 

Our featured Lifestyle Tip for October is Staying Flu-Free, and our Recipe of the Month (we're not kidding!) is for a great flu remedy -- good old chicken soup.

As always, when you see "Read More" at the end of an article, or something that is underlined, you can click on it to be linked to another Web site where you'll find more information. When you find a site that you may want to visit again in the future, you can bookmark it.

Each month we receive questions from our readers. We post some of the more frequent questions and answers for everyone to read. If you have questions or comments of your own, please e-mail them to us at the end of this issue.

We hope you enjoy this issue of our newsletter. Thank you for choosing Access Diabetic Supply as your choice for diabetic supplies.

During flu epidemics, death rates among people with diabetes increase by 5% to 15%. Pneumococcal disease kills more people in the United States each year than all other vaccine-preventable diseases combined, and people with diabetes are at greater risk. Although people with diabetes are more likely to die with the flu, research indicates that about 50% of them did not get a flu shot. 

The Diabetes and Flu/Pneumococcal Campaign is part of an ongoing public service campaign called Diabetes. One Disease. Many Risks. This Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) campaign's purpose is to reduce other illnesses faced by people with diabetes. This year, CDC is focusing on the increased risk of death from influenza and pneumonia. 

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Tips for Preventing and Fighting the Flu

Influenza, also known as flu, is a highly contagious viral infection that tends to occur in epidemics during winter. Unfortunately, as flu viruses are always changing, this winter's flu will be slightly different from last winter's. 

The infection mainly affects the upper respiratory tract (airways), and unlike other common viruses such as chickenpox or measles, there is not just one type of flu virus but several different types. These types themselves change frequently. So getting flu once does not provide protection against a future attack. 

Flu is spread through the droplets released into the air when a sufferer sneezes or coughs. The virus may be caught from breathing in these droplets or by having contact with surfaces where they have settled. Someone who has flu is usually infectious for about a week. 

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If there is a shortage of flu shots this year, what can you do to ward off a winter's-worth of sneezing and fevers? 

First, avoid contact with people who are sick. Second, wash your hands frequently after being out in public. Carry some alcohol wipes when on planes or in public and use them on your hands frequently. Third, take astragalus, a Chinese herb with antiviral and immune boosting properties, through the flu season. 

And of course, keep up your general good health habits.  

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October Lifestyle Tip: Diabetes and the Flu

Approximately six percent of the U.S. population has diabetes and every year one million people are diagnosed with the condition. It's extremely crucial that these people protect themselves against the flu and get immunized. The death rate for people with diabetes raises 5 - 15 percent during an influenza epidemic.  

Remember:

• The best time to get immunized for the flu is October to Mid-November.

• It takes about one to two weeks for the vaccine antibodies to provide protection.

• Children under the age of six, senior citizens, health care workers and diabetics are recommended to get a flu shot each season.

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This month our featured recipe is for Chicken Soup. This time-honored remedy has been found to be effective in treating flu symptoms.

Below are a few of the typical questions our customer care department has answered on this month's theme. Each question is linked to a Web site that gives an answer and provides more detail. We hope you find this section helpful.