Bg all over the place

[juliekem]

I have been low carbing very successfully - indeed, I was recently able to post my success in having my gp reduce my metformin! However, since just before the new year I have had a cold and then developed a dreaful chesty cough. I am still eating low carb but my blood test results are very high. This morning I have just tested and had a result of 10.1!!! It has been hovering around 8 and 9 for the last two weeks. I cannot understand why coughing up loads of phlegm should have this effect on my bg levels. I am not going out much due to the cough and not sleeping either (cough worse at night.) I am taking a sugar free expectorant...............

 

[tim2000s]

When you are ill, in a non-diabetic person, your body produces extra glucose to help fight the illness. As a diabetic, it does the same, but you aren't able to regulate it in the same way, hence the increase in levels. That's what is happening to you.

As a T1, I would just take extra insulin. As a T2, I'm not sure what the advice is.

 

[Mike d]

Back to the GP ... you need (as I did last winter) some extra strength antibiotics to knock this on its head. No big deal

 

[AndBreathe]

Back to the GP ... you need (as I did last winter) some extra strength antibiotics to knock this on its head. No big deal

In UK, antibiotics will (should) usually , oonly be prescribed where the phlegm is "colourful" or where there are significant chest noises. Colourless phlegm is usually left to work it's way out naturally. The "colour" (usually greenish,.................... - TMI) is usually considered the sign of a bacterial infection.

 

[zand]

In UK, antibiotics will (should) usually , oonly be prescribed where the phlegm is "colourful" or where there are significant chest noises. Colourless phlegm is usually left to work it's way out naturally. The "colour" (usually greenish,.................... - TMI) is usually considered the sign of a bacterial infection.

And even then some patients (ie me) are left to struggle to get over the infection without antibiotics because 'they' are trying to cut down on antibiotic use.

 

[Mike d]

Odd AB My doc insisted I needed something extra but only after he knew I'd spent four days in bed

 

[AndBreathe]

And even then some patients (ie me) are left to struggle to get over the infection without antibiotics because 'they' are trying to cut down on antibiotic use.

 

[AndBreathe]

Odd AB My doc insisted I needed something extra but only after he knew I'd spent four days in bed

Oh, they always ask the colour question here, if they don't see any evidence. No colour = treatment of "keep it until it gets better".

Thankfully, I find Mother Nature to be very clever, but sometimes not clever enough. I think I've only had antibiotics once in the last 15 years - which was for a nasty chest infection, made worse by long haul flying, twice, during it's earlyish days. I judged my medical needs very badly in that instance, and ended up quite poorly due to being stubborn, and an element I might not be passed fit to fly, if I had gone to the quack.

Bonkers, moi?

Sometimes. .

 

[juliekem]

I managed to get to see the nurse (who can prescribe antibiotics) but despite my colourful descriptions of my phlegm and even a dramatic performance of a coughing fit, i was advised to go home, continue with the expectorant and possibly inhale steam. No antibiotics. I feel like S**t and told her so but no joy. She said the illness was lasting about 4 weeks! In addition I was told that a bg of 10 was high but in the normal range and nothing to worry about. This is despite me telling her about my last Hba1c result!