Meducation for colds/flu etc with diabetes

[DiabeticDi]

Hi, i have been Type 1 for 43 yrs. Any thoughts or answers please. . I went to the doctor yesterday who diagnosed me with a chest infection and prescribed antibiotics.

He asked me if I had been taking anything and I said Lemsip. Hesaid I should not take it because it raises blood sugar and blood pressure. Never knew this?! Nor Beechams or Sudafed.

 

[EllieM]

Well, as a T1 I can inject for the sugar in cold remedies. Blood pressure? I'm on blood pressure meds and my bp is fine, so I wouldn't personally worry about the bp too much, though now you've told me this I would probably check my bp if I took those meds.

So what did your gp recommend you take? Just the antibiotics? (Admittedly if you've actually got an infection they do sound like a good idea.)

I'm guessing he'd be OK with you gargling with salt water to relieve a sore throat.

 

[Rachox]

Hesaid I should not take it because it raises blood sugar and blood pressure.

I’ve always understood that taking decongestants (there’s some in Lemsip and the like) can raise blood pressure as they restrict your blood vessels.

 

[Lamont D]

I know it depends on the doctor and the antibiotics.
But I have been given glucose (sugar) free version.
There is in most medications a certain amount of something ending in 'ose.
Depending on your intolerance to sugars of every variety, cold remedies are about as much use to a chocolate fireguard. A And usually full of sugar, as this boost to your BG levels, softens the symptoms every time you take them, but after a couple of hours, you feel just as bad.
There is no cure for the common cold, most cases of flu. If not given antibiotics.
I had to go through all this with my endo, who advised paracetamol.
Being lactose intolerant gives me more issues, as there is a lot of pills out there that contain lactose as a binder.
Never mind the other binders used in pharmaceuticals.
It is a minefield.

 

[Nicola M]

Most leaflets for cold/cough medicines always say either don't use if you have diabetes or consult a doctor before using. I've personally never noticed a difference in my BS when taking either medicine but I guess it can affect everyone differently.

 

[Melgar]

I try not to take any cold remedies as they definitely raise my blood pressure, as do painkillers. I have never thought to question whether the meds raise my blood sugars as I’ve assumed it’s because I’m sick.

 

[Sarah69]

I don’t take anything for a cold just paracetamol.

 

[Deleted member 527103]

My BP is always good at my annual reviews so I have never consider my diabetes makes me any different in that regard to someone without. It's not as if I take cold relief for longer than a couple of days.
As for rising BG, not taking them and suffering from decongestion raises my BG more.

 

[Ushthetaff]

I think if you read virtually anything with regard medicines and diabetes it will say raises bs , bp etc etc , have to weigh up the risk versus reward as with everything in life , what happens if you don’t take them oh yes your bs raises and so does your bp. Personally I take lemsips or the cheaper equivalents if I feel a cold coming on it gives me the paracetamol hit to reduce any raised temp I might have plus I quite like the lemon so double whammy

 

[DiabeticDi]

Well, as a T1 I can inject for the sugar in cold remedies. Blood pressure? I'm on blood pressure meds and my bp is fine, so I wouldn't personally worry about the bp too much, though now you've told me this I would probably check my bp if I took those meds.

So what did your gp recommend you take? Just the antibiotics? (Admittedly if you've actually got an infection they do sound like a good idea.)

I'm guessing he'd be OK with you gargling with salt water to relieve a sore throat.

Hi sorry for delay in replying! First day Ihave felt well after this horrid chest infection. Yes 5 days of Amoxicillin. He told me I could take paracetamol. I have never heard this about cold meds and info on Internet differs. Thanks for replying

 

[DiabeticDi]

My BP is always good at my annual reviews so I have never consider my diabetes makes me any different in that regard to someone without. It's not as if I take cold relief for longer than a couple of days.
As for rising BG, not taking them and suffering from decongestion raises my BG more.

Exactly. I don't want to intrntionallyraise my levels of any kind obviously, but if I have chest infection and am asleep or at home all day I figure that they are raised anyway

 

[DiabeticDi]

I think if you read virtually anything with regard medicines and diabetes it will say raises bs , bp etc etc , have to weigh up the risk versus reward as with everything in life , what happens if you don’t take them oh yes your bs raises and so does your bp. Personally I take lemsips or the cheaper equivalents if I feel a cold coming on it gives me the paracetamol hit to reduce any raised temp I might have plus I quite like the lemon so double whammy

Exactly, some common sense!

 

[Andy_Nash]

Hi, i have been Type 1 for 43 yrs. Any thoughts or answers please. . I went to the doctor yesterday who diagnosed me with a chest infection and prescribed antibiotics.

He asked me if I had been taking anything and I said Lemsip. Hesaid I should not take it because it raises blood sugar and blood pressure. Never knew this?! Nor Beechams or Sudafed.

I've not heard that before. I use Lemsip for colds and have never noticed any impact on my sugars.

 

[whiteorchid]

15 ears ago, before I was diagnosed with diabetes,I took Beechams all in one and it nearly killed me. I am allergic to the E110 yellow dye and it brought back my asthma after nearly 30 years without it. Now I cannot take any decongestants, they work in reverse. I don't really get colds, but I get a really bad sore throat that goes straight to my chest and sets of my asthma so I end up on antibiotics and steroids. This makes my diabetes spiral so I only do it when it is too much to cope with

 

[SheilaCanning]

I was just going to ask this - I have a cold virus thingy and my husband bought me some Lemsip Max tablets. I just had a look at the leaflet and it said don't take if XYZ and then check with your Dr or pharmacist if diabetic. I haven't taken them just to be on the safe side but the ingredients sounded like they don't have sugar so I'm not sure why.

 

[carty]

I use Echinaforce by Vogel which is Echinacea .It works for me and no side effects .Worth looking it up !
Carol

 

[Vic roach]

Well, as a T1 I can inject for the sugar in cold remedies. Blood pressure? I'm on blood pressure meds and my bp is fine, so I wouldn't personally worry about the bp too much, though now you've told me this I would probably check my bp if I took those meds.

So what did your gp recommend you take? Just the antibiotics? (Admittedly if you've actually got an infection they do sound like a good idea.)

I'm guessing he'd be OK with you gargling with salt water to relieve a sore throat.

Infection feeds on Diabetes and high Glucose levels don't help the chest infections. As doctors are still on lockdown menu 3 weeks wait for a phone appointment, First and unable to hear your chest infection. We cost to much to NHS with our medications. Now we are made to sit in a cold house, we lost our winter fuel allowance

Edited by mod to remove forum rule breach

 

[Rachox]

Infection feeds on Diabetes and high Glucose levels don't help the chest infections. As doctors are still on lockdown menu 3 weeks wait for a phone appointment, First and unable to hear your chest infection. We cost to much to NHS with our medications. Now we are made to sit in a cold house, we lost our winter fuel allowance

Edited by mod to remove forum rule breach

If you feel you can’t wait three weeks to see a GP there’s always the 111 service.