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I've got a cold (flu?)..what now??

A

alembic1989

Member
Messages
24
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Hi to all.
I've had a cold (I think for a few days now...since monday in fact. Trouble is I cannot eat as I'm waiting for my BG levels to drop. I usually eat when they drop to 4-4.5
but today it hasn't dropped below 5.5...I've only eaten 3 very small meals since Monday!!
What do I actually do...eat normally and watch my BG levels rocket? or carry on starving?
I am type 2 and not on any medication for my diabetes.
Can anyone give me some sound advice on what I do regarding feeding myself?
Many thanks.
 
You need to eat, Alembic. Food is fuel, and it could well be that your BG levels are up just because you are not eating - your liver is converting its glucagon stores into glucose just to keep you functioning!

They'll be elevated anyway because of the infection - perfectly normal!

There are times when diabetes has to take a back seat to your general health (to quote Ken, our former monitor) and this is one of them.

In your place I would be eating things like scrambled eggs, maybe with cheese, tins of soup (Heinz chicken is very comforting, as is tomato), fish - even things like a hot Oxo or Bovril, because you need plenty of fluids.

Running your blood glucose a bit high for a few days won't hurt you in the slightest - and by the way, 5.5 is not high, in fact it's the top end of the non-diabetic range - and you need to look after yourself if you're ill.

Can you tell us why you think you shouldn't eat until your BGs are 4.5 or less? I'm genuinely interested in the theory behind this.

But now - you need to eat, and you need to drink lots of fluids. Trust me - I'm not a doctor, only a Type 2 diabetic! :lol:

Viv 8)
 
Hi Viv,
thanks for the great reply.
Here's what I do..and why.
I don't want to raise my BG higher than 7 at any time.
I use my test strips very often and have found that some very tasty dishes that will only take my Bg up by about 2.5. I am Indian and a vegetarian and finding food that I can eat is sometimes very very tricky. So if I start with a BG of about 4-4.5 , then my reading 2 hrs later are more often than not less than 7...I feel nourished and good,
I try and do everything right..I am a personal trainer..and so should have realised about the glucagon (thanks..btw).
Since being diagnosed 3 years ago, I have dropped my bodyweight by 12kg reduced my bodyfat percentage and exercise regulary and HARD.
I keep tabs on everthing.
HOWEVER..being an extremist by nature I do sometimes 'go off the rails big time' for a week or 2.
I see an Ayurvedic practioner too and have found the medication anmd advice to be very beneficial.
I'm afraid that my GP is absolutely S*** and have had no advice to speak of.
A shocking amount of people in my gym who are also diabetic have not even been told what GI , or GL is..and their relevance to their control...thier GPs told them nothing...just gave them Metformin and told to get on with it.
It's about time these people started earning their £100,000 a year salary.
Rant Over
 
Hi Alembic

A very interesting post! I can see where you're coming from, and you must have very good control, as well as being very healthy - if this is the first cold you have had since you joined the forum .

I would still emphasise that you must eat. Being a vegetarian makes it a bit more difficult for you than it is for me, but not impossible. Could you use a blender and make up some soups for yourself from your usual food choices? Anything that's easy to swallow and easy to digest. Maybe any other vegetarians reading this might have some suggestions?

It won't hurt to let your BGs run on the high side of your normal range while you're ill.

Get well soon!

Viv 8)
 
I can see that you're ovbiously a person who wants to be fit and healthy; however, needing to practically starve yourself in order to maintain low BS would indicate to me that the time may have come to consider medication for your T2. I don't think starvation is a good way to treat anything. Just my opinion.

I hope your cold gets better soon and that you're feeling more like yourself.
 
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