Rate your immune system

[Evermont]

I think I heard that diabetes can compromise the immune system.

So how is yours holding up?

[KatGirl]

I rarely get sick (knok on wood). I am one of those who never uses their sick days from work.

When I do get sick, it's usually a sore throat and a stuffy nose. It never developes into anything.

Now that I said all that, I'll probably come down with H1N1.

[Granny Shanny]

We took quite a hit a coupla years ago when we were both smacked down with the flu quite late in the season. But I wasn't showing any symptoms of diabetes in those days. I suspect that might have knocked my immunity down a few pegs - or did it strengthen it, due to adding the antibodies to that specific flu strain?

Anyhow, I caught a mild cold over Thanksgiving weekend. It's hard to tell about us, because we're so rarely exposed to the usual germs that circulate through the local populace, but I think my immunity is fairly strong.

[foxl]

We took quite a hit a coupla years ago when we were both smacked down with the flu quite late in the season. But I wasn't showing any symptoms of diabetes in those days. I suspect that might have knocked my immunity down a few pegs - or did it strengthen it, due to adding the antibodies to that specific flu strain?

Anyhow, I caught a mild cold over Thanksgiving weekend. It's hard to tell about us, because we're so rarely exposed to the usual germs that circulate through the local populace, but I think my immunity is fairly strong.

See I rated mine STRONG, b/c we are bathed constantly in a miasma of EL ED germs! So I do get sick, but ... not nearly as often as I would expect to!

[poodlebone]

I voted "fairly strong". I don't get sick often. Last year when everyone at worked passed some bug around to each other, I was the only one who didn't catch it.

Also, my immune system is strong enough to kill both my beta cells and my thyroid!

[foxl]

Also, my immune system is strong enough to kill both my beta cells and my thyroid!

YEP -- misguided power is still POWER!

[inkvisitor]

Not too shabby here - I get cold symptoms once in a while, but I've never had the flu.

Of course when I was little I had scarlet fever and that's what probably caused the Type 1. I guess it overstrengthened part of my system and made everything else just a bit stronger

[GretchO]

i voted fairly strong, though i rarely get sick...but when we were in MO (the past 4 years) colds would knock us for a loop, both me and my DH. i wonder whether the viruses there are different enough and because we both grew up and lived only in New England our immunities couldn't handle what we were exposed to in MO? my daughter is NEVER sick. in her almost 5 years she's had one ear infection and 1 stomach bug. she's had a couple of minor sniffles from time to time (that turned into whopping colds for me and my husband) but other than that has not had anything major (thank GOD!!!). she's been in day care since she turned 1.

[raffi]

Since my DX and lifestyle changes that have gone along with it, I now consider my immune system very strong. Over last few years, I've seemed to get EVERY cold that my kids heard about (no need for them to actually get it themselves...). The last few months, I'm have been the only person not getting sick.

[cherokee_psh]

Really, weaker. I rated mine as pretty weak, because of history not currently immune conditions. I was one of those kids that was always sick. I could not get immunizations for the first year because I always had something! The doctor would even open the office on Saturday and Sunday just to see me (born in a small Ohio town, back then in that region doctors still did that). Never really shook it the ability to get sick easily. I always blamed being premature. I continued this pattern of frequently sick into adulthood. When I got diabetes it actually improved. I am rarely sick now.

[lorilei]

i seem to by pass alot of bugs..but once i get one...it's like a month long fiesta for any bug that's wants a hostess...still in one now...

[pands45]

I used to get colds and bugs constantly but since my Dx I have had lifestyle changes ( diet and exercise) and haven't had anything. My allergies however are worse but I think I am allergic to the world. Maybe my meds affect my allergies.

[GrammaBear]

I voted "weaker than many" because while I rarely get a cold or the flu, I do have a dickens of a time if I get an ear infection (even at my age). I've been searching for ways to be stronger but so far haven't found any advice.

[Mich]

I rated mine "strongest possible" because most of the time, it's working overtime! It ate my beta cells and thyroid, I have some form of auto-immune joint/muscle problem inherited from my dad (which my youngest daughter has had since her teen years, just like me), I have hay fever and strong reactions to some molds also.

I'm rarely sick. I don't take flu shots because I get an allergic-type reaction to them, and a very good allergist determined that I really have no allergies after the "100 things injected into your back" test.

It's a mystery. I'm thinking some day there will be a discovery proving that auto-immune things are all related. Until then, I wish my immune sytem would take a little vacation.

Ah-choo. 20+ times, for no reason!

Mich

[mraymond]

I get sneezed on so much by the children I teach violin to, that I think that has really strengthened my immune system. I almost never get anything and when I do it is really mild! knock on wood.

mary