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Meducation for colds/flu etc with diabetes

D

DiabeticDi

Well-Known Member
Messages
259
Type of diabetes
Type 1
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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
 
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
 
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
 
Exactly, some common sense!
 
I've not heard that before. I use Lemsip for colds and have never noticed any impact on my sugars.
 
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
 
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.
 
I use Echinaforce by Vogel which is Echinacea .It works for me and no side effects .Worth looking it up !
Carol
 
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
 
Last edited by a moderator:
If you feel you can’t wait three weeks to see a GP there’s always the 111 service.
 
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