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Diabetes and colds

S

SarahBear

Member
Messages
11
Location
Manchester
Type of diabetes
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
I'm just after some general advice really as this is the first time I've had a cold since I was diagnosed a couple of months ago...

I'm Type 2 on Metformin SR and Lisprinol for my blood pressure.

Basically, what can you/can't you take to aleviate sore throat, blocked nose, cough, headache etc etc?

I'm used to being able to take allsorts but then discovered that I can't have any of the Beechams/Lemsip hot drinks anymore - it specifically says in the leaflet not to use if you are diabetic. I've always found this really good for the decongestion element especially as I find it almost impossible to sleep when I'm all bunged up. Are there any alternatives that I can use?

Ibruprofen and/or paracetamol? Or even Lemsip cold capsules. Am I allowed to take any of these? And if not, again, are there any alternatives? I don't fancy just having to put up with a headache!

I did manage to get some sugar free cough medicine which I was advised I would be fine to take but the rest of it I have no clue! It's just not something I've ever had to think about before!

Any ideas or suggestions would be greatly appreciated
 
i have always caught every cold going round and it always developed into flu or bronchitis

sorry to sound like an ad

but since I discovered olive leaf extract I dont get colds - not even when hubby brings a very bad cold home from work

i have been taking olive leaf extract for about 6 years now and at the first sign of sniffles or sore throat I swallow as much of the syrup as I can in as many doses in a day as I can - i never need to do it for longer than 4 doses or so in one day

some might say it will blow your blood glucose for that 1 day - maybe it will

BUT

a full-on cold for 10 days will blow your blood sugar for 10 days

my hubby started taking olive leaf extract a year ago and even when everyone has a cold at work he does not even get a sniffle and he does what I do - several doses the day you feel a sniffle or sore throat
 
I think they only say "not suitable for diabetics" because the over-the-counter meds have sugar in them - they're disclaimers so that you can't blame them if anything happens. If you have high blood pressure (and I do mean high) it's a different matter.

I still use Lemsip when I get a cold, though maybe only one or two a day. The one at bedtime is invaluable for a good night's sleep. And I put a flat teaspoon of honey in! :shock: They don't raise my BG too much - not much more than the cold does all by itself. I stop them as soon as I can.

I caught my present cold from the doctor :roll: on November 15th. It's still hanging on in the form of catarrh, which is quite disgusting. I have returned to my old standby, Benylin Expectorant - 2 good swigs at bedtime, which helps a lot.

My BGs have been running in the high 5s/mid 6s during this, which is high for me, and is going to completely b****r up my next HbA1c, booked for Dec 13th. But . . . what can you do?

So, in my experience, OTC meds such as Lemsip don't affect me much. I take fewer than I would have done pre-diabetes, but getting well is my main aim. Take them cautiously with lots of testing, if you can, and try not to worry too much. I doubt if you'll die :wink:

Viv 8)
 
Sudafed tablets during the day (no sugar) Night Nurse at night (no sugar) puts you out like a light!

It is, however, sometimes surprising how good some of the old fashioned remedies are. Menthol and Eucalyptus emulsion in a bowl of hot water and inhaled for 5 minutes works well for congestion. Hanging a wet towel on the radiator at night moisterises the bedroom air and helps with coughs. Good old Asprin is very good at relieving inflammation of the ears, nose and throat.
My personal favourite is raw crushed garlic (one clove unless you are TOUGH) in warm water, twice a day, garlic liquifies the mucus and wards off unwanted attention from members of the opposite sex and vampires † † † † † † † !

H
 

Thanks, Viv. That was my thought - it isn't going to kill me! And like you say my BG is probably all over the place anyway right now.

 

Funnily enough I was wondering about taking Sudafed. Good to know, thank you!

I was getting to the stage where I was going to do the whole bowl of hot water thing with some Olbas oil! Thankfully the congestion has pretty much cleared up now, just left with a nasty cough and a headache.

Not sure I'd want to go down the garlic route but that is good to know for future reference! lol

 
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