Role of Vaccines in the Prevention of Diabetes Mellitus

Diabetes Mellitus stands as a prevalent non-communicable disease globally, impacting individuals across all socioeconomic backgrounds. Particularly in developing nations like India, where adult immunization efforts face challenges amid the ongoing H1N1 pandemic, there arises a pressing need for comprehensive vaccination strategies encompassing all age demographics to combat potentially fatal infectious diseases. While free universal immunization initiatives cater to children, consensus regarding vaccine administration in diabetes patients, be it type 1 or type 2, remains elusive. Nonetheless, certain clinics do offer routine vaccinations such as pneumococcal and influenza shots to diabetes patients, recognizing their heightened susceptibility to infections due to immune system dysregulation. Notably, diabetes patients exhibit elevated rates of hospitalization and mortality from pneumococcal disease and influenza. Given the clinically significant benefits of vaccines, guidelines from esteemed organizations such as the American Diabetes Association (ADA), Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), World Health Organization (WHO), and United Kingdom authorities offer clear directives. Thus, clinicians in India are encouraged to contemplate the incorporation of vaccines into diabetes management protocols. Various types of diabetes vaccines, including polyvalent therapeutic vaccines, inverse vaccines, and newly designed vaccine products, present promising avenues for exploration. In this chapter, we provide an overview of diabetes mellitus vaccines along with their underlying mechanisms.