Night nurse

[shelbyyyy]

Can a type 1 diabetes take day/ night nurse I've got the worse cold and it's the only thing that helps me sleep and feel slightly human not sure if I am allowed it though as I forgot to ask chemist when brought it help???

 

[azure]

@shelbyyyy I'm guessing you bought the liquid? There are also capsules available. I take these.

I haven't taken the liquid since I've been diabetic as it's very sweet, but you may be ok as a one off. The only thing I would say is that it can make you a bit dopey so can potentially mask the signs of hypos.

 

[shelbyyyy]

I've got the capsules do you think they would be okay?

 

[azure]

I've got the capsules do you think they would be okay?

@shelbyyyy If you're not allergic to any of the ingredients. What I do is take a half dose - ie one capsule. The reason I do this is so that I'm not so dopey that I don't wake up if I go low. I find that one capsule works for me

Hope you feel better soon.

 

[ButtterflyLady]

I think Azure's info about taking only one capsule to reduce the drowsiness is a good idea. I'm not familiar with this product so I googled it just out of interest, and found this:
http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/aches-and-pains/medicines/day-and-night-nurse.html

It says day/night nurse is not to be used in diabetes, but it doesn't say why. One of the ingredients in night nurse is the antihistamine phenergan, which does make people pretty sedated/drowsy. You might want to call a 24 hour pharmacy for advice? Or just take one capsule if you feel confident about being awake enough if you go low.

A medicated nasal spray might be a good option for making it easier to breathe at night with a cold. And paracetamol for pain and fever (but calculate the paracetamol in day/night nurse so you don't overdo it).

Hope you feel better soon!

 

[silverbirch]

If you are unsure whether the medication is safe to take then I wouldn't take it. Yes it's a cold and yes it's miserable, but they usually take 10 days to clear and that's not so bad. People are different and you don't know how you will react. I have to agree with Azure regarding night time hypos. Maybe take one during the day, (when there is someone else around), to see how you react. It's crazy when you think about it, that our body has insulin as a natural part of it's function and we take all kinds of meds without thinking, but then diabetes comes along and messes with our bod,y and also our heads, because we have to think and rethink all our actions. Sorry went off the subject a bit there. Hope your cold gets better very soon.

 

[Aginoth]

Night Nurse contains Promethazine which is a decongestant, I have been advised several times by Consultants to avoid any decongestants.

This is what I can gather from a little research...apparently decongestants can act similarly to adrenaline, thus they can cause blood vessels to constrict, alter the pressure of the fluid in the eye and increase blood pressure. Also, as with adrenaline, decongestants can cause a release glucose into the blood stream from the liver, raise blood glucose, and cause the production of ketones independent of blood glucose level. For most people, it is not a big deal but for diabetics we need to err on the side of caution. If it is a big deal for you, test your blood sugar, take the decongestant, then keep testing to see what happens.

 

[ButtterflyLady]

Night Nurse contains Promethazine which is a decongestant, I have been advised several times by Consultants to avoid any decongestants.

This is what I can gather from a little research...apparently decongestants can act similarly to adrenaline, thus they can cause blood vessels to constrict, alter the pressure of the fluid in the eye and increase blood pressure. Also, as with adrenaline, decongestants can cause a release glucose into the blood stream from the liver, raise blood glucose, and cause the production of ketones independent of blood glucose level. For most people, it is not a big deal but for diabetics we need to err on the side of caution. If it is a big deal for you, test your blood sugar, take the decongestant, then keep testing to see what happens.

I agree with that, but sometimes if you have bad nasal congestion and can't sleep, it's a short term necessary fix. Sleeping with a blocked nose leads to mouth breathing and snoring, and if it goes on long enough, sleep apnoea, which is just as bad for diabetes. It's a trade off I guess; case by case basis.

Edited to add: Promethazine is an anti-histamine and not a decongestant as such. It will decongest, but not as much as a decongestant such as pseudoephidrine. Also avoid phenylephrine as a decongestant, as studies have shown it doesn't work. Waste of time.

 

[Aginoth]

I agree with that, but sometimes if you have bad nasal congestion and can't sleep, it's a short term necessary fix. Sleeping with a blocked nose leads to mouth breathing and snoring, and if it goes on long enough, sleep apnoea, which is just as bad for diabetes. It's a trade off I guess; case by case basis.

Edited to add: Promethazine is an anti-histamine and not a decongestant as such. It will decongest, but not as much as a decongestant such as pseudoephidrine. Also avoid phenylephrine as a decongestant, as studies have shown it doesn't work. Waste of time.

Always happy to be corrected I shall remember that's an anti-histamine; they're on the "seek medical advice" list rather than the "do not take" list.

http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Antihistamines/Pages/Who-can-use-it.aspx

 

[Pinkorchid]

When I asked in Boots if my husband could take it the pharmacist said Night Nurse was ok for a diabetic to take but not the Day Nurse