From time to time we have a cold and the flu, but for diabetics, the cold and the flu can be a little more serious. People with diabetes are more prone to infections, so it is important to make sure that the cold and flu do not become unpleasant. Below are some simple tips and advice that should be a big help if you get a cold or flu.
1) Drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration. If you eat poorly and your dehydrated blood glucose level may become too low. Dehydration itself can also cause problems.
2) Rest - a lot of rest will allow your body to repair and deal with colds and flu. Your body will be weaker if you have a cold or flu, so help it by giving your body less time and focus on fighting the infection.
3) Keep a good intake of vitamin C and zinc. Vitamin C can be found in citrus fruits such as oranges and juices, or you can take supplements. If you use supplements, you do not need high-strength grades, for example. 1000 mg simply use standard strengths.
4) High temperature. If you have a fever above 38 degrees, tell your doctor. Paracetamol is good for lowering the temperature. If you are on medications, make sure you check with your pharmacist that you can take paracetamol with your medications. (Almost all diabetic medications are compatible with paracetamol, but still a good check.) If you have a high fever, it may be a sign of infection.
5) Avoid antifungal against flu. Theoretically they could
making signs of persistent high blood glucose is more difficult to identify, and if you are on blood pressure lowering medications, they can raise blood pressure.
6) Regularly monitor your glucose levels. If your levels go far beyond the target range, see your doctor or if you are on insulin and can make changes to your insulin regimen, then you may need to adjust accordingly, but make sure you have permission from your doctor.
7) Control your ketones - if your blood glucose level becomes high, it can lead to ketones, it can happen more often with type 1 diabetes. Test your ketones in your urine with simple ketone urine strips, such as ketostix, and tell your doctor That you have positive results.
8) Take diabetes medications and / or insulin - if you can take medicines, they will help you recover faster, making sure your body is functioning properly. In some cases, your cold or flu may worsen if you are not taking diabetes medicine or insulin.
9) Prevention is better than cure - the flu vaccine can prevent certain types of flu. If you can access the flu, it will be helpful to prevent the flu. Ask your doctor if you can access the flu.
10) Sugar-free medications - you can use lozenges for sore throats and cramps for dry cough. Ask your pharmacist about sugar free varieties. If you have a severe cough (cough with mucus), and the mucus is dark, this is a sign of infection, and you should go to a doctor. Diabetics are much more susceptible to infections.
We hope you can use these tips to prevent serious illness and flu, and also recover faster.
Now that you have read our article on diabetes, the common cold, and the flu, we encourage you to read our article on what is diabetes. The article has a lot of useful knowledge.
