living with diabetes safely use?
diabetes safely use?
Treating a cold while managing blood sugar can be difficult for a person with diabetes. Infections can increase blood glucose, and cold medicines may contain sugar. It is advisable to follow a sick day plan and use sugar-free medications.
Diabetes is a group of conditions that impair how the body processes glucose and maintains blood sugar levels. When a person is ill, their body’s effort to fight off the infection can disrupt their blood sugar level. Additionally, many over-the-counter medicines that a person may take to help relieve symptoms may contain sugar.
Therefore, when a person with diabetes has a cold, it is advisable for them to regularly check their blood sugar level and try to use only sugar-free medicines in order to better manage their blood sugar.
Illness and blood sugar: Having an illness or infection, such as a cold or the flu, can raise a person’s blood sugar level. This is because being ill puts additional stress on a person’s body, leading to the release of stress hormones to help fight the sickness. As a result, the body releases more glucose into the bloodstream, and blood glucose levels increase.
In a person without diabetes, the body produces more insulin to manage blood sugar levels. However, in people with diabetes, the body either does not produce enough insulin or does not use it effectively. Additionally, if a person loses their appetite or experiences diarrhea, their blood sugar may drop because they are not consuming or absorbing food as usual. This can make it difficult to keep blood sugar within a person’s target range.
If a person cannot eat meals while they are ill, it is sensible to have fast-acting carbohydrates, such as juices or other glucose-rich drinks, nearby.
Illness can make it more difficult to manage blood sugar levels and may increase the risk of potential complications. A person may want to discuss an action plan with their healthcare team. This may include advice on adjusting diabetes medication, checking for ketones, and using cold medicines.
Healthcare experts typically recommend that people follow sick day rules. These guidelines include:
When possible, it is preferable to use sugar-free versions of medications or choose a pill form rather than a liquid form of a medication. If a person must take medication that contains sugar, it is important to account for that sugar when administering their diabetes medications.
Additionally, individuals with hypertension may want to avoid using decongestants because they may further increase blood pressure. Many decongestants contain pseudoephedrine. This drug constricts blood vessels in the nose and sinuses to relieve congestion, but it also tightens blood vessels throughout the body.
As an alternative, people may consider natural methods of reducing congestion, such as taking a steamy shower, drinking plenty of fluids, and eating spicy foods.
The CDC adds that a person may consider seeking emergency care if they experience:
Typically, a healthcare professional will suggest that a person with diabetes use cold medicines that are sugar-free. Additionally, they may advise avoiding decongestants if the person has hypertension.
Source: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/cold-medicine-for-diabetes
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