When unwell, having diabetes can make things more difficult. However, if blood sugar is not well controlled, patients can feel even worse.
The following simple guidelines can help people with diabetes who have a cold, fever, or flu in the winter recover quickly.
Should I continue taking my diabetes treatment medication?
“The biggest misconception that people with diabetes have when they get sick is that they don’t need to take their diabetes treatment medications anymore because they aren’t eating much food.” says Elaine Sullivan, a diabetes educator at the Joslin Diabetes Center.
It’s true that eating less will lower your blood sugar. But lack of physical activity and diabetes itself can raise blood sugar. That’s why it’s important to continue taking your diabetes treatment medications while you’re fighting a cold or flu.
What should I eat?
It’s best to eat as usual. If you can’t eat too much, try to eat at least 45-50 grams of carbohydrates every 3 to 4 hours. Soup, soda crackers, popsicles, and gelatin are all more manageable foods than regular staples.
What should I drink?
Even small amounts of soup and crackers will not stop the spike in blood sugar during illness. The patient’s body gets rid of excess sugar through urine, then by drinking lots of water can help speed up this process. Patients can feel thirsty all the time, because high blood sugar dehydrates people.
Drink 240ml of zero-calorie fluid every hour – unless you can’t swallow food. “If you can’t eat, drink a no-calorie drink one hour and a carbohydrate-containing drink the next,” Sullivan said. “A carbohydrate-containing drink could be 240ml of orange juice or a regular soda.” Fluids with minerals, such as broth or sports drinks, can help keep you hydrated.
Can I take cough or cold medicine?
Take sugar-free medicine if you can. Syrup-based medicines contain more sugar than tablet-based medicines. But if you need a syrup to soothe your throat, you need to take a syrup-based medicine. “The amount of sugar you get from a tablespoon of cough medicine is not enough to make a big difference,” Sullivan said.
Some medications like aspirin, antimicrobials and decongestants can raise or lower blood sugar, whether they contain sugar or not. If you don’t know how to take these medications, consult your doctor or pharmacist.
How often should I check my blood glucose levels?
When you are sick, you may not notice the symptoms of high blood sugar because you feel uncomfortable anyway, so you need to check your blood sugar level every 2 to 4 hours for the first few days.
Sullivan said, “If your blood glucose is normal or below 250 mg/dl, then no additional testing is needed, and if you have one reading above 250 mg/dl or more, you should adjust your carbohydrate intake accordingly. If two or more consecutive blood glucose readings exceed the peak, contact your doctor.”
High risk warning
Diabetes can be managed during illness. But contact your doctor if you have any of the following symptoms:
- Two or more blood glucose levels at or above 250 mg/dl;
- uncontrollable nausea or diarrhea;
- Vomiting;
- Inability to swallow liquids;
- Fever of more than 24 hours;
- abdominal pain;
- Inability to care for oneself.