Decongestants

[Flakie]

i occasionally take decongestants when my sinuses are really blocked, as they are at the moment, and take the Boots plain ones, not Sudafed or anything of that ilk. The last two mornings my sugars have been 6.1 and 6.3 when they are normally in the mid 5s. Could it be the tablets? I saw on the leaflet they should be used with caution in diabetics but took them anyway as I needed them.

 

[bamba]

You might want to look at the ingredients on the "Boots Plain Ones" https://www.boots.com/boots-pharmaceuticals-decongestant-tablets-12-tablets-10174509

Psudoephedrine Hydrochloride is the active ingredient in Sudafed.

( BTW Ephedrine is the American name for Adrenaline - it acts to narrow capillaries and cut down the flow - it will probably raise your blood pressure )

 

[Eddy Edson]

Oh, I was just checking out cold medicine after noticing higher BG after taking some.

For pseudoephedrine, I found this: https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/pseudoephedrine-oral-route/before-using/drg-20067942

• Type 2 diabetes mellitus—Use of pseudoephedrine may cause an increase in blood glucose levels

The chemist said "No prpbs!" when I asked if it was diabetes-OK. I'm going to scowl at her next time I go there.

 

[Pumper_Sue]

The warning is due to the chance that the tablets increase BP not blood sugars.
Your raised blood sugars are more than likely due to the sinus problems

 

[mikeyB]

That rise in BG is not what you could call statistically significant in any event. Don’t worry. I tend to agree with pumper Sue.

 

[Flakie]

Thanks all. I agree mikeyB that it’s not high - just a little higher than I’m used to! I’m not taking them today so we’ll see tomorrow morning. I’ll have to read labels a little more closely from now on.

 

[Alister]

Thanks all. I agree mikeyB that it’s not high - just a little higher than I’m used to! I’m not taking them today so we’ll see tomorrow morning. I’ll have to read labels a little more closely from now on.

I think that sometimes we have to be realistic & take a short term hit on or BG control* if there are other things that need treatment.

*provided that hit is not too significant, i would certainly accept mid 6's for a couple of days as insignificant ymmv

 

[Flakie]

Very wise!