For people with diabetes, maintaining a healthy immune system is critically important. Paying too little attention to immune health can mean lingering illnesses, susceptibility to viruses, and worse. Even minor illnesses can become life-threatening if your immune system isn’t up to the challenge.

Key steps for boosting immunity whether you have type 1 diabetes or type 2 diabetes are efficiently managing blood sugar and eating the right foods.

 Controlling Your Sugar

If your sugar is too high or uncontrolled, your body is less efficient at fighting off infections. You can improve your immunity by closely managing blood sugar levels with diet, exercise, and insulin if needed.

 Eating Immune-Boosting Foods

Choosing the right foods can make a huge difference. Avoid processed foods in favor of whole foods. Among those, look for foods that have the following:

• Vitamin C, such as citrus fruits, strawberries, peppers, and broccoli
• Vitamin E, including nuts, salmon, and avocado
• Zinc, such as red meat, poultry, certain kinds of seafood, and beans
• Omega 3 Fatty Acids, including fish, seeds, and soybeans
• Turmeric
• Ginger

And yes, chicken soup is not only good for the soul, but for the body. It offers many immune-boosting properties.

Of course, there are other things you can do to boost your immunity, like getting adequate sleep, exercising, and taking supplements.