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High Blood Sugars with Illness!

Rachox

Oracle
Retired Moderator
Messages
17,628
Location
Oxford
Type of diabetes
I reversed my Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
I had a mild cold a couple of weeks ago and noticed a small rise in my blood sugar readings which soon reverted back to mostly 5s with the occasional 6. I have spent most of last night coughing and haven’t eaten much today. My temperature is running at 38-39c, despite regular paracetamol, I feel rough and my readings have been from 6.2 - 7.0 today but my last blood sugar reading just now was 9! I’ve never had a 9
Is there a specific point at which I should seek medical help?
 
I suspect that the raised temperature and blood glucose are both as a result of the infection, a natural defensive response.
I don't think that you need to be concerned about anything other than staying warm and rested until you get better. Plenty of warm fluids and light nourishment.
I am sometimes concerned about medications which lower temperatures - particularly in children - as it masks the symptoms and reduces the body's ability to fight the pathogen - the body reacts as it does in order to stay alive and well, it should not always be denied it's natural defenses.
 
Thank you for your comments, I need the paracetamol for my headache too though I’ll try to last til bedtime without now.
 
Rachox said:
Is there a specific point at which I should seek medical help?
Click to expand...

"I'm not a doctor but"...

My GP yesterday said I should get a flu jab, being a diabetic, for this sort of reason, so I did some googling and found this page in this very site:

https://www.diabetes.co.uk/diabetes-and-illness.html

It sets the bar very high! 28 mmol/l is the advised point at which to seek medical advice(!).

Seems a bit scary. Anyway at least you are well below it for now.
 
On that page, I thought the bit about keeping eating anyway was interesting, certainly not something I'd intuitively do if I was aware my bg was soaring.

On the plus side, the last time I heard of someone getting to that level and seeing a GP was Steve Redgrave, so if you do get that high, you may find you get very good at rowing
 
Rachox said:
Is there a specific point at which I should seek medical help?
Click to expand...

If you are over 20 for any length of time (more then 2 or 3 days), or get close to 30 and it is not comming down see a doctor quickly.

The most inportant thing is to drink lots of water and tea (coffee is OK before midday), and check that you are getting a little salt. Homemade bone broth would be great if you have it in your freezor.
 

Thanks for the link, very reassuring. 28mmols though, wow! I’ll try to eat a little dinner so I can take my Metformin this evening. I’m drinking plenty, so looks like I’m doing everything I should.
 
The way to think about it is that all a doctor can do is give you inslin to bring down the BG, as nothing else works quickly. With an illness BG can be very unstable, so great risk of Hypos if insulin is used.
 
When I was brewing a cold mine hit 12! Its the body's way of fighting infection - the liver dumps glucose into your bloodstream to enable your immune system to fight the infection. Paracetamol, hot drinks (try ginger tea - good for a sore throat) and sleep. Let your immune system do what it needs to.
 
Whenever Ive got a virus etc I find my sugars swing about between normal and 10ish - usually worse if Ive had a bad nights sleep with it and also generally first thing. Beware of cough medicines etc - most are stuffed full of sugar
Hope you feel better soon
 
I have some SF cough linctus and SF Strepsils, but am using them sparingly. Thanks for your get well wishes x
 
I had those high numbers (9s and 9.5s) for a week or so after my corticosteroid injections. I too was was a bit concerned especially as I felt no symptoms of high bg. I prescribe plenty of rest to allow your immune system to do its job. As you had an infection not so long ago the immune system can become fatigued that is why occasionally you hear people say they go from one infection to the next.
Rest and plenty of comforting drinks. Get well soon lass.
 
I think I’m going to have to write off Dec.! My postponed foot operation is next Friday, and at the same time I’m getting a steroid shot in my other foot! I’ve just had an HbA1c so at least these high sugars will be the oldest numbers for my next one at the end of Feb.!
 

I agree, there will be no blame attached to 'ignoring' December's numbers as the infections and injections can't be avoided. I was careful (much more more so than ususal) to keep my carb count as low as I could during the week that my bg was high, I do not know if it helped but it did mean that I knew that I had done all that I could not to add to the high bg. Keep testing, though, as this will record exactly how your body reacts inthese circumstances and after the infection clears and your foot is (comparatively) pain free I hope to hear that you are dancing while hoovering.
 
If your BG is not back to normal a few days before your operation, give them a ring so that they have time to put someone else in the slot.
 
ringi said:
If your BG is not back to normal a few days before your operation, give them a ring so that they have time to put someone else in the slot.
Click to expand...
Noooooooooo! I really don’t want to postpone it again! The hospital rang yesterday and cancelled as the hospital was full, I was supposed to have the op today. Turns out I wouldn’t have been able to have it done today anyway. Fingers crossed I’ll be well enough for next week
 
I think a lot of ‘non urgent’ proceedures are being cancelled at the moment as hospitals are heaving
A friend was due to go in to have his heart shocked to get it back in rythmn - cancelled. My mum was taken in to A&E yesterday then admitted to a ward overnight but thankfully discharged today - apparently the nursing staff reported that the hospital was 100% full so all non urgent admissions were being put off in order to free up space.
 
A friend of mine’s daughter had ankle surgery postponed to next week too, in a different part of the country to me. The hospital I’m booked into is an orthopaedic hospital that only does waiting list surgery so I was a little surprised!
 
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