Question re Type 2 and the flu !

[susieq67]

I think I have been managing my BG levels quite well since being diagnosed in July - numbers have been between 5 and 7 with an occasional spike to 9 after breakfast cereal. My last Hba1c at the beginning of October was 50 down from 59 mid-July and I'm still losing weight (nearly 2 stone now !). With these readings my GP is still happy for me to continue without medication.

However I've had the flu since last Thursday and my numbers have rocketed, rarely under 8 and often in the 9 - 11 range. Am I right in thinking that this is due to the flu ? and that my numbers will come down once I'm over it ? I'm concerned that these higher readings will show up as an increase in my next
Hba1c blood test and that my GP will want me to start tablets

I haven't changed my diet in any way - still eating low carb with lots of protein, green vegetables and two small portions of fruit a day. I also consulted the pharmacist about flu remedies and only got those that were sugar-free and therefore, hopefully, diabetic friendly.

 

[Northerner]

Hi SusieQ, sorry to hear you are feeling poorly You are correct, illness will normally push blood sugar levels up as you can become more insulin resistant and the stress of the illness causes your liver to produce more glucose to give you energy to fight the infection. People who are on insulin usually have to give extra in order to help control the levels, but obviously this isn't an option for you. However, the levels you are getting are not catostrophic, and show that the improvements you have made to your control mean that you are coping much better with this illness than you would have done otherwise. Things should get back to normal once you are on the road to recovery 🙂

Get well soon! 🙂

 

[susieq67]

Thanks for the reassurance 🙂

 

[Northerner]

Thanks for the reassurance 🙂

Forgot to say, your HbA1c is unlikely to be affected by a short illness 🙂

 

[susieq67]

Well, I got over the flu and almost immediately caught a cold ! That's almost gone, but now I have a gum abscess So because of three infections one after the other my sugars are still much higher than they were.

Does diabetes lower one's immune system generally ? Or have I just been unlucky ?

I can honestly say that up until I was diagnosed I rarely, if ever, caught a cold or flu and was generally quite healthy

I know that my diet has changed drastically - now very low carb and very little fruit. Although I'm still eating lots of green veggies and salads. I have started taking Echinacea again in a bid to boost my immune system but is there anything else I can do ?

 

[happydog]

Sorry to hear that you have had three nasties one after the other Like you I had not had much illness before the D struck. Currently I have either a very bad cold or 'flu. Struggled to the pharmacy yesterday where he told me to just take paracetamol for the headache, keep warm and rested and drink lots of fluid and try to eat a little. He suggested that I should try to see the doctor as diabetics are susceptible to pneumonia. (I'll just rest up a bit.) You may well be healthier now that you have been before with your good eating. I take a multivitamin supplement and some omega oil (hate fish but apparently it is good to eat oily fish). I think we may be more prone to get things and also for the symptoms to be more pronounced. Gum problems are also more likely. Will be interesting to hear what others have to say. Hope you feel better soon, sounds like you are doing well on the control, good work! 🙂