Treating a cold is tough for everyone. But when you have diabetes, your recovery may be riskier and harder to handle. This is because diabetes lowers your immunity, and any illness or infection may raise your blood sugar levels, making everyday treatments more complicated1.
It is important to stay vigilant and monitor your insulin levels to ensure you take the proper precautions in a timely manner. While treating a cold with diabetes can be tricky, there are steps you can take to ensure your body stays healthy. Read on to learn some helpful tips on managing your diabetes while you are sick, and how to choose the right remedy that can work for you during the cold and flu season.
1. Monitor Blood Sugar Levels
Whether you have Type 1 or 2 Diabetes, high blood sugar levels can lead to life-threatening problems such as diabetic coma, or ketoacidosis – a buildup of excess acid in your blood when your blood sugar is too high for a prolonged period2.
But an increase in sugar level does not only occur after you eat or exercise. When your body is battling a cold or any illness, it sends out stress hormones to fight the infection. This causes your liver to release more glucose into the bloodstream, causing a spike in your body’s sugar level. For people who do not have diabetes, their body naturally counters this by producing insulin to regulate blood sugar levels3.
In contrast, if you have diabetes (Type 1 or 2), your blood sugar levels stay high as your body either does not or may not produce enough insulin. It is recommended to check your blood sugar level every 3 or 4 hours if you are sick with a cold and adjust your insulin intake accordingly2.
2. Remember to Eat and Drink
You may not feel hungry when you are sick, but it is important to keep up with a regular meal plan. Letting your blood sugar levels fall too low can also be dangerous. If you are unable to eat your regular meals, try to consume soft foods that contain carbohydrates. These include frozen yogurt, a juice box, or soup.
Being sick with a cold or the flu also means you are losing more fluids than normal. Try to drink plenty of water in addition to other fluids to keep yourself hydrated. Drinking water or sugar-free liquids can also help flush high blood sugar or ketones from your system2.
3. Cold MedicineS for PEOPLE WITH Diabetes
Not all over-the-counter (OTC) medicines are suitable as they can affect your blood sugar levels. Generally, it is advised to avoid medicines that are high in sugar.
BENYLIN® Extra Strength Cough & Congestion Syrup for People With Diabetes is a sugar-free syrup that contains a decongestant suitable for diabetics. Recognized by the Canadian Diabetes Association, this sugar-free§, sorbitol-free product is specially formulated with menthol to provide effective cough, congestion and mucus relief expected from BENYLIN® products.
It is always recommended to follow the instructions on the label and consult your health care professional to ensure the product is suitable for you.
§Sweetened with sodium saccharin.
4. REDUCING YOUR RISK OF A Cold
Did you know that there’s no cure for the common cold? But there are steps you can take to reduce your risk of cold. Remember to wash your hands with soap regularly and avoid being around people who are feeling unwell. As having diabetes increases your risk for developing complications of the flu (such as pneumonia), it is important to take preventative measures so you and your loved ones can stay healthy. Consult your doctor about getting a flu shot every year and remember to go for regular health check-ups2.
Remember, you can avoid falling sick by simply managing your daily routine. Ensuring that you get enough sleep at night, exercising regularly, and finding healthy ways to manage stress are all great ways to keep your mind and body healthy.
Sources:
- //www.cdc.gov/flu/highrisk/diabetes.htm
- //www.webmd.com/diabetes/guide/diabetes-colds
- //www.diabetesselfmanagement.com/about-diabetes/diabetes-basics/planning-ahead-for-sick-days/
When your child is sick, you want to do everything you can to help them feel better, but cold medicine for kids with diabetes can be like a minefield for parents.
Story by: Lisal J. Folsom, M.D., M.S. on February 24, 2020
When your child is sick, you want to do everything you can to help them feel better, but choosing cold medicine for kids with diabetes can be like a minefield for parents.
One of the nice things about over-the-counter (OTC) medicine labels is they recommend to “ask your doctor before taking this medicine.” Here are some of the reasons why your endocrinologist may suggest one medicine over another for your child, or why they may say “no” for any of the following:
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS)
This includes medicines such as ibuprofen, naproxen and aspirin. The reason these medicines are so effective at preventing pain and reducing inflammation is that they prevent the creation of prostaglandins, chemicals in the body that cause swelling and inflammation. Prostaglandins also help with blood flow to the kidneys (renal blood flow). These medicines can affect the kidneys by lowering blood flow to them. If your child with diabetes is sick, they already may have decreased renal blood flow because of dehydration, and taking these medications could increase the risk of acute kidney injury.
But if you’re 5 years old, and not feeling well, and you can’t have ibuprofen because it could hurt your kidneys, what can you take?
Acetaminophen
Well, you could take some acetaminophen. But this can pose an issue, too, because acetaminophen can interfere with continuous glucose monitoring — you may have heard it can throw off your readings, depending on the monitor. Why is this?
Many early continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), including Dexcom G4, Dexcom G5, and Medtronic CGMs, can’t always tell the difference between acetaminophen and blood glucose.
This is because part of acetaminophen’s molecule is a phenol. When phenols become oxidized (a chemical reaction), the chemical structure is similar to glucose (blood sugar). This means that when your child takes acetaminophen, some CGMs may be tricked into thinking there is more glucose than is actually in your child’s blood. It’s been shown that these monitors may read between 20 to 60 glucose points higher than a child’s actual blood glucose reading. The biggest difference in a reading likely would occur one hour to 90 minutes after taking acetaminophen. Some monitors, including Dexcom G6 and implantable CGMs, are not affected by this “phantom glucose.”
So does that mean acetaminophen is off the table for treating your sick child? Not necessarily. Giving acetaminophen is fine, but know that depending on the CGM your child has, you may need to use finger sticks for blood sugar monitoring while your child is taking this medicine.
Decongestants
These are commonly used for cough, colds and allergies. They have a chemical structure similar to amphetamines. Amphetamines can create a “fight or flight” response, also called sympathomimetic stimulation. This is when your body kicks into high gear and your adrenal glands begin producing hormones that cause increased blood glucose to fuel your muscles. It’s fine to give your child a decongestant, but remember that the blood sugar levels may be elevated while taking the medication.
Liquid medications
Younger kids may not like to or be able to take medicines in pill form. Liquid medicines can help, but many have sugar that would affect children with Type 1 diabetes. Depending on the type, a tablespoon of liquid medication can have a sugar content between 1 to 12 calories per 5 milliliters, which means that a child could have 1 to 9 grams of carbohydrates per tablespoon. This may not seem like a lot, but if your child is older and needs higher doses of insulin for carbohydrates, they could be missing out on several units of insulin if this type of medicine is used without accounting for the carbohydrates. If your child takes a cough medicine, pay attention to the serving size and sugar content, as this is an added source of carbohydrates.
Many liquid medications, including those for children, also contain alcohol. Many cough syrups have up to 10% alcohol content. This can cause CGM values to be less reliable due to the alcohol, and finger sticks may give lower readings when a child is taking a medication that has some alcohol content.
Herbs and supplements
There are many herbs and supplements that people read about that claim to benefit blood sugar and diabetes. Two that have been studied include glucosamine and cinnamon.
People sometimes take glucosamine for joint pain, and some wonder whether it might be helpful for diabetes. The typical recommended dose for joint pain is 1,500 milligrams. The doses studied around diabetes management were five to 10 times higher than the 1,500-milligram dose. A high-powered microscope showed pancreatic cell death at these high dosages. Additionally, glucosamine use did not show any benefit for blood glucose, glucose metabolism or insulin sensitivity in people with diabetes, or in the control group without diabetes.
Cinnamon is another popular supplement studied in diabetes, however, there is no evidence that supports benefits for children and teens with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes.
Lisal J. Folsom, M.D., M.S., is an endocrinologist with Norton Children’s Endocrinology, affiliated with the UofL School of Medicine, and an assistant professor of pediatric and adult endocrinology at the University of Louisville School of Medicine.[templatera id=”304707″]