As a person with type 1 diabetes who belongs to a group of people with chronic illness, it was very important for me to protect myself from the coronavirus. After several consultations with my endocrinologist, I decided to get the vaccine. Thus, on Saturday, March 27, 2021, in Serbia, I received the first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine.
Before getting the АstraZeneca vaccine
Although there are a lot of people from the Balkan region waiting to get their first dose of the same vaccine, it was surprising that my parents and I got the vaccine and finished the process in less than an hour. When it was our turn, the doctor first asked us a few questions to determine if we could get the vaccine.
The doctor asked me the following questions:
- “Do you have a chronic illness?”
- “How long have you been living with type 1 diabetes and how often do you control it?”
- “What was your HbA1c in the last 6 months?”
- “Do you take any other therapy/pills?”
- “Have you had any surgery on your breasts, uterus?
- “Are you pregnant?”
After this, they entered our information into the system, then they vaccinated us and finally, we sat down for 10 minutes, take a rest, just in case if some reactions occurred.
Side effects of the АstraZeneca vaccine
It’s normal to experience side effects after the vaccine. It shows the vaccine is teaching your body’s immune system how to protect itself from the disease, however not everyone gets them. For any negative consequences you might have, it is best to consult your doctor. I will only talk about AstraZeneca and how my body reacted to it.
- 12 hours after I got the first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine, I had the following side effects: tenderness, swelling at the injection site, headache, chills and fever (the temperature was 38.6 °C). The blood sugar levels were in the range of 8-12 mmol/L. I took paracetamol. The doctor told me to take paracetamol if the temperature is above 38.0 °C.
- The next morning, Sunday (28.03.2021), I had a temperature of 37.2 °C, while my blood sugar level was 8 mmol /L. I also had pain and swelling. In the afternoon, after 17:00, the temperature increased to 38 °C, and in the evening, at 22:00, it dropped to 37.2 °C. My sugar during the day was in the range of 8-12 mmol /L.
- The day after (29.03.2021, Monday), the temperature was 37.2 °C. After 15:00, the temperature dropped above 38 °C. I still had swelling and redness at the injection site. My blood sugar levels throughout the day were in the range of 6- 10 mmol / L.
- These days, Tuesday and Wednesday, I have no fever at all, but I still have swelling, redness and pain at the injection site. I also have a headache. The blood glucose levels are still in the range of 8-12 mmol /L.
These days, due to the swelling and redness at the injection site, I can’t exercise. That’s why I go for a walk. I should take the second dose of AstraZeneca for 12 weeks.