The Affects of Common Cold and Flu on Diabetics
No one likes the cold and flu season, but diabetics have more reason to dread it than most. A person that is relatively healthy can expect to be out of commission for about three to four days. A person with diabetes could end up in the hospital, especially if they do not keep close tabs on their blood sugar levels.
Diabetics are strongly urged to get flu shots to protect themselves from getting the flu. Getting a simple cold or the flu can place added stress on the body raising the blood sugar levels. Most medications on the market, to aid in the relief of symptoms associated with cold and flu, contain high amounts of sugar. A diabetic should always read the labels of over the counter medications and look for the ones that are sugar-free or low in sugar. It has not been proven that these medicines decrease the duration of cold or flu. Diabetics need to weigh the consequences of taking these to feel better and dangerously raising blood sugar levels against being miserable for awhile, but somewhat safer.
The next problem that cold and flu presents for the diabetic is they are probably not eating properly. It is widely known that a diabetic must eat a healthy diet, however with illness such as cold or flu it is quite likely that is not an option due to vomiting and nausea. Physicians recommend eating 15 grams of carbohydrates per hour, but due to the circumstances know that this may not be feasible. They will also usually advise the diabetic to continue taking their medications as they normally would.
Lack of fluids is one more threat that a diabetic can face. Taking in copious amounts of liquids is vital. Water, tea, and broth are excellent if the blood sugars continue inside the normal and high range. But if the blood glucose levels plunge, sipping a half cup of apple juice or other like sugared juice is counseled.
It is crucial to keep a close eye on the blood sugar levels while sick as they can go up or down very drastically and very rapidly. Seeing as the diabetic is already feeling miserable as a consequence of have a cold or the flu, they may miss warning signs that their glucose levels are out of whack. Ketones need to be watched as well. Ketones are the final result of extreme fatty-acid breakdown and are located in the urine only after ketone levels in the blood attain a certain level. If a urine test shows ketones, notify your doctor without delay. Coma is the outcome of untreated high levels of ketones in the urine.
Despite the fact that no one can avoid getting the cold or flu 100%, they can take preventative measures. Receiving a flu shot as well as asking those in contact with them on a regular basis, friends, loved ones and co-workers, to get one is an excellent starting point. Flu shots will not promise that an individual will stay flu-free, on the other hand for approximately six months it makes it extra hard catch it.
A pneumonia shot is another way to safe guard oneself against getting seriously ill. Pneumonia shots are available to anyone over the age of two who stands at a higher risk of dying from pneumonia (an infection in the lungs), such as diabetic patients. Pneumonia shots are also 60% effective in preventing other life-threatening diseases like meningitis (infection in the brain) and bacterernia (infection in the blood).
In conclusion, the most effective line of attack to evade illness is plainly by scrubbing your hands often and methodically. The effortless function of hand scrubbing sloughs germs and bacteria away, keeping them from finding a way into our body by way of the eyes, nose, or mouth.
Talking with a physician before becoming ill and learning what to expect and when to contact them is important.
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