illness and BS impact

[Agada]

Hi all and happy Friday quick question with regards to your “typical” illnesses such as a common cold, chest infection/cough, sore throat, sickness bug and so on, do you find that when you get any of these they raise your blood sugar levels at all? Or is it usually a more serious/debilitating illness that affects levels somewhat? Reason I ask is because, even though I am in remission and blood sugar levels are good (controlled through lifestyle) I know illnesses can affect BS levels in diabetics, but if I’m currently under good control will any illness still have a big negative effect? I don’t test my blood or have a monitor and I have a hba1c test in a few weeks, I have a cold with bit of a cough right now, not debilitating but it’s there and am worried it might raise my hba1c result

 

[JoKalsbeek]

Hi all and happy Friday quick question with regards to your “typical” illnesses such as a common cold, chest infection/cough, sore throat, sickness bug and so on, do you find that when you get any of these they raise your blood sugar levels at all? Or is it usually a more serious/debilitating illness that affects levels somewhat? Reason I ask is because, even though I am in remission and blood sugar levels are good (controlled through lifestyle) I know illnesses can affect BS levels in diabetics, but if I’m currently under good control will any illness still have a big negative effect? I don’t test my blood or have a monitor and I have a hba1c test in a few weeks, I have a cold with bit of a cough right now, not debilitating but it’s there and am worried it might raise my hba1c result

Accoring to my current UTI, yeah... Even with good control bloodsugars can rise a bit. usually with a common cold too. A cold as you now have, will only last a week though... The HbA1c is the average of 2,5 to 3 months, so it is probably not much of a blip. You'll be okay, as will your HbA1c.

Edited: It's not 25 months, I missed the comma....

 

[xfieldok]

Yes, bugs and illness raise it. Don't sweat it, just ride it out.

 

[Oldvatr]

It may be that your meter is being fooled by the illness. Sound silly? well. An infection will raise your white blood cell count, and the leukocyte count (dead white cells) will also increase as your body fights the infection. This will alter your red/white blood cell ratio (haematocrit value in the blood test) Now most bgl metes for home use are sensitive to this ratio, and are calibrated to an average normal non infected midpoint. During illness the haematcrit will move the calibration off key, and the meter readings being reported will change.

 

[Struma]

It may be that your meter is being fooled by the illness. Sound silly? well. An infection will raise your white blood cell count, and the leukocyte count (dead white cells) will also increase as your body fights the infection. This will alter your red/white blood cell ratio (haematocrit value in the blood test) Now most bgl metes for home use are sensitive to this ratio, and are calibrated to an average normal non infected midpoint. During illness the haematcrit will move the calibration off key, and the meter readings being reported will change.

May I just point out that it is just red cells that make up the haematocrit (or PCV) value.

 

[Oldvatr]

May I just point out that it is just red cells that make up the haematocrit (or PCV) value.

Agree, I forgot the effect of serum fluid which may also affect haematocrit. Of the two, WBC is a smaller effect. So dehydration is a more likely cause of variation in haematocrit.