The common cold

[unicorn09]

Evening everyone!

So I work in an open plan office and last week about 3 people came in with heavy colds. Which, with MS, Hidradenitis and Diabetes, the inevitable happened and now I have picked it up (v. grumpy as I’d booked annual leave for Friday and Monday and now I’m unwell. Grumps!)

Anyway so as you do I started on the regular cold medicines, the Tesco version of lemsip and some cough drops. I didn’t even think about the sugar content but suddenly my blood sugars were up, and I worked out it must have been the medicine I took.

So, what DO you take if you have a cold? I’ve got some vicks vapour rub going on but this cough is driving me mad. Is there anything out there that helps without spiking the sugar? I’ve been working so hard, I don’t want a cold to mess with my good work.

Thanks all in advance! (Going to hide in bed now....)

 

[SueEK]

Hi, I have no idea but will be very interested if somebody has an answer. Hope you feel better soon.

 

[Pollyanna]

Stiff brandy with juice of whole lemon
2 paracetamol... Every 4 hours
A warm bed and a good book
Olibas is better than vick IMHO.
Get well soon....

 

[chaoticcar]

Vogel do ivy thyme complex which is good for coughs and Echinaforce for cold symptoms ,herbal remedys that work for me ,no sugar but do have an alcohol base Body kind sell them on line cheaper than the normal shops like Holland and Barrett
Carol

 

[TheClockworkDodo]

I already take lots of Vitamin C, 200mg four times a day with meals (fourth being bedtime snack in my case), but if I have a cold I might up it to 1000mg total a day. I couldn't take even half that much in one go (it causes upset stomachs in high doses) but spread throughout the day I find it's OK.

Colloidal silver is anti-viral, anti-fungal, and anti-bacterial - gargle with a teaspoon disolved in water if you have a sore throat and then swallow it - if anything it may slightly lower your blood sugar (probably won't, but it won't raise it either). It might help soothe the cough, especially if it's rasping your throat. You can also use it on cold sores if you get them (and on all sorts of other things - spots, earache, thrush - so although it's expensive, it's handy to have around) - dab it on neat.

I can't take Echinacea because I'm allergic to alcohol, but I know a lot of people find it helpful.

Your blood sugar is likely to be higher anyway when you're ill, so it might not be just the meds. A short period of slightly higher sugars isn't likely to kill you, so don't beat yourself up about it, just concentrate on resting and getting well. Lots of fluids should help with both the cold and the blood sugar.

 

[Lilian]

Remember also that your blood glucose will likely go up because of the infection.

 

[mikeyB]

It’s a cold. There’s no treatment that will get you better quicker, if you feel a bit achy take paracetamol. And don’t spend any money on anything else, it’s a waste of money.

As Lilian says, your BG might well go up with the infection, but don’t worry about that, the effect only lasts about 2 or 3 days.

 

[Andy HB]

Stiff brandy with juice of whole lemon
2 paracetamol... Every 4 hours
A warm bed and a good book
Olibas is better than vick IMHO.
Get well soon....

Whiskey in coffee, anadin as needed plus bed is my (not guaranteed to work) prescription. 🙂

 

[Madeline]

I like Benylin Day & Night capsules for clearing up the snot, eldest daughter’s boyfriend is a pharmacist, and he swears by Day/Night Nurse. Definitely go for tablets rather than liquids to avoid sugar.

 

[Pine Marten]

I really really really wish people with ailments would *not* play the martyr and come into work! Diabetic or not, it just spreads the germs around 😡

My numbers always go up with an infection, and with a recent one I took Ibuprofen, and sugarfree Fisherman's Friends for the throat. Brandy or a whiskey also good - for medicinal purposes only of course

 

[Drummer]

I was in the same position, but many employers insist that a cold is not a good enough reason for staying off work - I ended up with the next thing to pneumonia and the doctor was calling in twice a day to see if he needed to send for an ambulance.
When I got back to work I was given a dressing down by a senior manager, and then told to send myself in to see him. I said 'but that's me' and he looked up with real shock in his eyes. When he'd seen me a few months earlier I'd been tanned, with long hair in a pony tail, fit as a flea, and a few weeks in the overheated open plan office, with people smoking and the windows shut fast, with thick fog and cold air outside, then all the coughs and colds - I was very much changed.

There is no cure - just look after yourself as best you can keeping warm and treating your symptoms.

 

[Hepato-pancreato]

As long as I can remember, it was general banter “whoever invents a cure for the common cold would be the richest man in the world “
I’m sure it’s out there, just a matter of finding it. Homemade lemsip might make you feel like your doing something and saving money. Boiled lemonade, tsp honey, slice of fresh lemon, and 2 x paracetamol.

 

[SB2015]

Stiff brandy with juice of whole lemon
2 paracetamol... Every 4 hours
A warm bed and a good book
Olibas is better than vick IMHO.
Get well soon....

Is that the brandy every four hours or just the paracetamol!!
Brandy and lemon is my choice too. Doesn’t get rid of the cold, which will just run its course, but tastes good.

 

[Ljc]

Is that the brandy every four hours or just the paracetamol!!
Brandy and lemon is my choice too. Doesn’t get rid of the cold, which will just run its course, but tastes good.

Imo Brandy every four hours would be worth having a cold for

 

[Paul123]

I have found Bronchostop is excellent for dealing with coughs. It may not taste as good as brandy or whiskey etc but it does what it says on the tin 🙂.

 

[mikeyB]

I agree with that Paul, it’s a tad more expensive than other commercial cough medicines, and it has that childhood yucky medicine taste, somewhere between creosote and sour cherry, but it does help.