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I'm finally sharing my experience of getting the COVID vaccine. I'm a bit hesitant, because I don't want to give the wrong impression, but I think it's important for other diabetics to be prepared in case they experience a reaction.
CW: gross medical stuff
CW: gross medical stuff
First off, diabetics are at elevated risk of severe complications from COVID, so anyone with diabetes (whatever kind) should be prioritized for vaccine access - regardless of what your state or the CDC officially says. https://twitter.com/Jandelliott/status/1348813946791333888?s=20
So last week, I had the opportunity to get a COVID vaccine, and given all of that 
I jumped on it! Afterwards I came home, had a normal dinner, and tested my blood sugar before bed (because my sensor just expired and I didn't want to wait 2 hours to calibrate a new one): 137.
I jumped on it! Afterwards I came home, had a normal dinner, and tested my blood sugar before bed (because my sensor just expired and I didn't want to wait 2 hours to calibrate a new one): 137.
The next morning I got up and tested again: 400
Okay, sigh. That sucks. Check infusion site, looks fine. Put some tape on just in case. Huge bolus, and start getting ready for the day.
Okay, sigh. That sucks. Check infusion site, looks fine. Put some tape on just in case. Huge bolus, and start getting ready for the day.
An hour later, still too high for breakfast, and I'm not really hungry anyway. Start the work day, but feeling pretty tired and just generally awful. Lay down for a few minutes. Suddenly realize I'm nauseous and I throw up 
I feel miserable and can't think straight, so I call in sick. Blood sugar has gone down a little, but not much. At this point, I'm in bed trying to rest, but getting up about once an hour (or more) to throw up. I keep bolusing, more and more aggressively, without much impact.
Blood sugar has been over 300 most of the day. My partner goes out to buy ketostix and - surprise - moderate. I finally call my endo and they basically tell me what I should have already determined, that it's time to go to the hospital.
A few hours later, the bloodwork in the ER confirms what I already knew by then - diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). They can barely get an IV in me because I'm so dehydrated. After a few hours of fluids and insulin, I finally start to feel better.
I spent the night in the ICU, but was feeling good enough by the next afternoon that I got to go home. After a few days I felt back to normal. It's weird how fast it all happened.
Was this from the vaccine? There's no way to know for sure but there's no other explanation that makes sense. Nothing else happened out of the ordinary before this. I've only ever had DKA once before, a decade ago. The ER docs agreed it seems like it must have been a reaction.
I've heard of other T1D's having stubborn high blood sugar after the vaccine, e.g. https://twitter.com/txdiabetic/status/1357844400513183745?s=20
But I haven't heard of anyone going into DKA. If you've seen anything, let me know! My vaccine was Moderna.
I'm going to get the 2nd dose in a few weeks. This time I'll be on the lookout for high blood sugar & nausea, make sure my CGM is running, and seek help sooner if I need to. But I'm hopeful it will be fine 
As bad as this was, COVID could be worse.
As bad as this was, COVID could be worse.
I'm sharing this b/c I want diabetics to be aware of potential vaccine reactions - watch your blood sugar, stay hydrated, and see a doctor if you need to! I was really hesitant to go to a hospital, but there are some things you can't fix on your own.
Finally, everybody - sign up for the CDC's V-Safe program *as soon as you get your first dose,* to help track any symptoms you experience from the vaccine. Don't wait a few days to sign up b/c you can only report what you've felt starting that day. https://vsafe.cdc.gov/
