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Cold, flu medication.

C

Charl

Well-Known Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 1
Had a cold, cough etc for over a week now, in days gone by the old lem sip drinks etc usually sorted it, only thing I can seem to find is the cough medication sugar free, anyone any other suggestions that I can try, did ask in the chemist where I ended up with a cough medicine and advised to take paracetamol. Cheers
 
Strepsils do a sugar free version to help soothe your throat. I just take paracetamol and ride it out. Not a lot else you can do with a cold unfortunately.
 
Just take the meds that sort your problem, eg runny nose, congestion, etc. Those drinks are a waste of money and I find the appropriate tablets just as good if not better. You can still use things like Vick and steam inhalations too.
 
hope u feel better soon
 
I use the lemsips, painkillers work quicker for me when dissolved in liquid. Or you could have some paracetamol if you don’t want the sugar in it.

Diabetes isn’t an allergy to sugar though, so the medication you take doesn’t have to be completely sugar free.
 
@Charl I had my first cold of the year and first as a diabetic starting on 30 September. Obviously all colds are different. Mine was a snot fest which caused a cough from the snot running down the back of my throat. I took an antihistamine and occasionally paracetemol which i had bought years ago when covid started.I decided after a few days i wanted lemsip which I hadn't taken for years as i had fond memories of it being soothing.. Pharmacist not available so asked the assistant who said used artificial sweetner When I got home I read the label as you do, and I have high blood pressure which was a no no. Following week I got my first ever sinusitis. I thought it was a dental problem til I googled. I used a salt water spray from chemist and went in a week. It only affected one side but I was due a cataract op on that side 4 weeks later. I then went and got some cough medicine which I found very soothing but when I went to get more and said I had had two bottles already and a cold for 6 weeks I was told to see my GP. Good thing is I met her for the first time. I was worried as I was due to start oral steroids prior to my op, that week and didn't want to start oral steroids and op be cancelled.

I agree look at what symptom is a problem and treat that. Sleep and a good diet and gentle exercise are good.


I used Covonia chesty cough with gaifenisin sugar free. First cough medicine ive bought for more than 15 years. I thought it helped but many pharmacists say they dont!

I didn't have aches or chills just horrible coughing to dislodge snot and loads of nose blowing.

Hope you recover quickly. My GP said colds can take 6 weeks to go.
 
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Sorry to hear you are poorly. Hope you get over it quickly.

I shop at Lidl so I just use their Max Strength Cold and Flu Relief Powers which has no significant impact on my BG levels, if you are looking for a Lemsip equivalent, but if you normally use that, there is no reason why you can't continue to use it.

At the end of the day, you are on insulin and you may well need to increase your doses to manage the virus anyway, so whether your treatment is sugar free or not makes little difference. It will only amount to 5g carbs at the very most if it is a sachet with sugar in it anyway.
 
@rebrascora makes a very important point.
The management for Type 1 diabetes is insulin. It is not cutting out everything with sugar in it.
When unwell, it is common for BG to rise due to your liver dumping glucose to give you the energy to fight the bugs. The impact of a little sugar in the medication maybe negligible compared to this. Plus, relieving your symptoms through some medication may reduce the liver glucose dump.

In other words, I do not worry if there is sugar in Lemsips if I find they make me feel better.

Get well soon @Charl
 
Regarding BG rising, My numbers have never looked better for the past fortnight...
helli said:
@rebrascora makes a very important point.
The management for Type 1 diabetes is insulin. It is not cutting out everything with sugar in it.
When unwell, it is common for BG to rise due to your liver dumping glucose to give you the energy to fight the bugs. The impact of a little sugar in the medication maybe negligible compared to this. Plus, relieving your symptoms through some medication may reduce the liver glucose dump.

In other words, I do not worry if there is sugar in Lemsips if I find they make me feel better.

Get well soon @Charl
Click to expand...
Thinking
 
I have developed a sore scratchy throat overnight which I reckon will turn into a full on cold. My go to is lemon and ginger herbal tea. Negligible carbs and very soothing to sip. Take paracetamol for fever and pain relief if I need to. Mostly resting under a lap quilt on the sofa by the fire today.
Hope you are feeling better soon @Charl
 
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