It’s cold and flu season once again, and these infections can be especially challenging for people who have diabetes, says Dr. Felix Jolly, a Family Medicine Physician at ThedaCare Physicians-New London.
“When a person with diabetes gets sick, the stress causes their body to release hormones that upset blood sugar levels,” he says. “With careful monitoring and preparations in place, people can reduce their odds of becoming seriously ill.”
How Diabetes Impacts Illness
Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects how the body uses blood sugar (glucose). Insulin helps glucose move from the bloodstream to cells, creating energy. With diabetes, the body either makes too little insulin or doesn’t use insulin as well as it should. When a person’s blood glucose levels are very high or very low, this can cause serious health problems.
People with diabetes who catch infection may find that their high bloods are too high or low. They also can experience confusion or changes in their behavior.
While diabetes does not make a person more likely to catch a cold or influenza, it does increase the odds of serious illness or hospitalization.
Planning and Preparation
Dr. Jolly suggests people with diabetes plan for days when they may feel unwell. This is especially important during cold and flu season. A combination of emotional support and careful tracking of blood glucose levels can fend off more serious bouts of illness.
He recommends the following:
1. Seek support from friends and family. Stress makes it difficult to pay attention to responsibilities, especially diabetes management. Sickness requires even more careful monitoring.
Loved ones can help with:
- Refreshing water and other drinks to help the person stay hydrated.
- Reminding the person to check blood glucose levels more frequently (every 2-4 hours).
- Preparing snacks or medications that will help address blood glucose levels.
- Providing emotional support during a stressful time.
2. Manage blood glucose. “Keeping your blood glucose on target is one of the best ways to help your body deal with sickness,” Dr. Jolly says. “Yet being sick can make it hard to eat, and that will disrupt your blood sugar levels.”
He suggests to his patients:
- Trying to eat the same amount of carbohydrates as normal. If possible, follow a normal diabetic diet.
- Writing down or recording all blood sugar levels, the time of each test and the medicines taken.
- Having simple carbs on hand in the event of experiencing low blood sugar. These could include juice or crackers.
- Taking diabetes medicines as usual. Do not skip or increase any medicine unless without talking to a doctor or advanced practice provider first. For example, loss of appetite could mean the body requires less insulin to process lower-than-normal carbohydrate intake. Speak with a doctor about these calculations before making any changes.
- Avoid over-the-counter cold medicines, as many of them include added sugars. Dr. Jolly does recommend taking ibuprofen and acetaminophen for body aches.
3. Know when to call your doctor. Certain conditions require a higher level of care for people with diabetes. Seek medical care for the following:
- Blood glucose higher than 240 mg/dL or blood sugars lower than 70 mg/DL for more than one day
- Vomiting or diarrhea
- A fever over 101 F for 24 hours
- Vision, speech or balance problems
Live Well in the Long Term
Prevention is the best practice, especially for people with diabetes. Follow these tips to avoid the spread of germs and better manage overall health:
- Take steps to manage diabetes. Support and education resources are available through ThedaCare.
- Wear a mask when around large groups of people and/or those who have cold or flu symptoms.
- Wash hands thoroughly several times a day.
- Contact the doctor’s office at the onset of symptoms. Antiviral medications may reduce the severity of an infection, if appropriate.
- Take advantage of increased access to more and different vaccines for people with diabetes. “Vaccines improve your immune response to infections. They help reduce the severity and length of symptoms, and that can keep you out of the hospital,” Dr. Jolly says.
- See your primary care physician or advanced practice provider for annual health screenings to track your wellness benchmarks.
“We all know that chicken soup is excellent when you are under the weather. It’s hydrating, provides electrolytes, and it’s soothing and warm” Dr. Jolly says. “What if we all made thoughtful choices about what foods we are putting into our body every day — not just when we are sick? With intention, we can get stronger and healthier — and fight off these common infections before they become serious.”
