high blood sugar while sick

[princesslinda]

As some of you may know i've had shingles (which are now MUCH better). Now, I have a chest cold, sore throat and cough. Gues my immune system is pretty much shot. Problem is, my blood sugars have been running high since my shingles diagnosis....they started to get lower, then I got the cold and they're back up. Fasting was 158, then 2 hrs after eggs/bacon 178....and yesterday, none lower than 120....all quite a bit higher than I usually run.

I've been eating quite low carb (20-30 gms/day), but haven't felt up to doing much exercise. I did restart the metformin I had at home to try and help, but its not really been long enough for it to start working.

Just curious for those of you've who've been sick, how long did you see higher than usual #s? I've not really been sick since diagnosis until recently.

[art]

When I got a cold my numbers jumped about 20-30 points.
As soon as the cold was gone my numbers returned to normal.

Took about 10 days.

It's normal

Art

[notme]

Gosh Linda, you have been through the wringer. I think you will have to just live with the high sugar for awhile until you get better. Drink tons and rest. Forget the exercise until you feel better. :(

[Mich]

Hi Linda,

Nuts! Sorry to hear it's been one thing after the other. I think you deserve a break.

My blood sugar goes up every time my body perceives a stress. I run high as long as I am sick or hurt, until I am back to normal. During my eye surgeries, it finally returned to normal after they were all finished and healed. I just tested often and corrected. I didn't adjust my basal because I never know how high they will run.

The only stress factor I can count on being predictable is use of a steroid. It stays high and gradually declines after I stop using the medication. For that one, I adjust my basal.

With a cold or flu, I would think you would need the rest rather than exercise. Sleeping a lot always helps me get well, and lots of liquids too. Maybe a little boost from your diabetic meds or insulin would help right now.

I hope you get on top of this soon. Have some chicken soup and go nighty-nite.

Hugs, Mich

[Janlaton]

Oooh, Linda so sorry you are under the weather here in this beautiful spring time.:(

My doc never lets me go off my meds when I am ill. Says that is asking for trouble. But my sugars stay up til I am back to normal. The amount up depends on the problem if just a cold about 20/30 pts. If it is sinus infection & bronchitis you do not want to hear those numbers. I don't want to remember them!

Praying you will be well soon.

[deb wardle]

Hi linda
Im sorry to hear you're not to well. its hard to get good numbers when you are sick. i feel like i am back to square one when im sick as it takes so long to get things back to normal ( whatever that is!)
Take care, hope you feel better soonX
Deb

[UpNorth]

I really hope you'll feel better real soon! Get lots of rest and drink lots of water!

When being sick, it's really great to be insulin dependant though! Having something that works within minutes from taking it! I'd go nuts on oral meds when being sick :( I always go sky high when being sick :s:

[jazzbo]

Princess Linda,
Hope you feel better soon. Whew! That's a lot to deal with.
How in the world do you do that low carb? What do you eat? I was instructed to eat 45 grams for breakfast! What is your secret?

[princesslinda]

Princess Linda,
Hope you feel better soon. Whew! That's a lot to deal with.
How in the world do you do that low carb? What do you eat? I was instructed to eat 45 grams for breakfast! What is your secret?

I've only been eating this way since i've been sick, as my #s went quite high and i'm not on insulin and want to make sure my meals don't push them up further. I couldn't do it that low for very long, though I did for a few months when first diagnosed with very good results. No secret...I eat basically the same things, meat, eggs, cheese, nuts, green veggies, salads.

I've basically had eggs for b/fast (fortunately, my cholesterol is good) with a couple slices of bacon. Lunch and dinner has been a big salad (field greens and cucumbers) w/italian dressing and a chicken breast or burger patty (no bun)...s/f jello or pork rinds or nuts when I need a snack.

Normally, I keep it between 70-100 carbs a day, sometimes more on weekends, sometimes less. I try to eat by my meter readings, avoiding foods that cause my blood sugars to spike.

Right now, i'd love a vial of insulin and some french fries though!:T

[Janlaton]

Come on now Princess you have to behave!:T

[kgm0612]

Sorry you're not feeling well, Linda. My blood sugars seem to run higher than normal when I'm sick too. Drink plenty of water and rest up!

(( HUG ))

Karen

[mzteacher]

dear linda,
so sorry you are under the weather...i am hoping for a speedy recovery and a long stress free healthy period for you!!!
susan

[princesslinda]

Thanks guys. I did end up going to the doctor today, as i'm coughing my head off and wanted some "narcotic" cough syrup to help me sleep. Turns out I have asthmatic bronchitis and sinus infection. My fasting blood sugar was an all time high of 168 this morning.... and I didn't even have dinner last night, I just came home from my 2nd job and went to bed.

While at the doctor, he did an A1C!:eek: :eek: I wanted to wait until next month, as I know it will be horrible as my blood sugars have been really bad during my shingles episode. I explained this and his reply was "its a 90 day average and you should be fine." He said as long as it was under 7 it was good as far as he's concerned. Sheesh!!!! I am aggravated and frustrated! I'll share my A1C results when I get it back. I'm betting its WAY up from my last one.:(

[adiantum]

ouch..poor Linda. You really have been unwell & I hope your recovery is speedy.
As if you dont have enough to tolerate, now you have to wait on the A1C.
Fingers crossed for a good result

[Kim_in_TN]

I'm sorry, Linda! I didn't realize you have been ill! I've never had shingles but my sister has and I know they are painful! Now to add insult to injury with bronchitis!!! (((HUGS))) I think just watching your carbs right now is the best you can do ... and I don't blame you about wishing you could have postponed the A1c but next time it will be much better again! ;)

[muddy]

When I had Bell's Palsy again my numbers were out the roof. I was so sick and my face would not work and I was throwing up from stress. I could not keeps meds down. Mine was 435.
It was like starting over and I wound up staying on more meds and higher doses. It was like I was never the same. Very depressing on me. I am still working at it everyday to see what works for me. I think STRESS is my biggest problem. It is odd to me that it can cause you to be that sick and make such a big difference. My identical twin sister does not have diabetes. She does have the high BP and cholesterol like me of over 500.
My BG is around 114 - 141 in the mornings even though it may have been 90 at bedtime.

[jacobsam622]

As some of you may know i've had shingles (which are now MUCH better). Now, I have a chest cold, sore throat and cough. Gues my immune system is pretty much shot. Problem is, my blood sugars have been running high since my shingles diagnosis....they started to get lower, then I got the cold and they're back up. Fasting was 158, then 2 hrs after eggs/bacon 178....and yesterday, none lower than 120....all quite a bit higher than I usually run.

I've been eating quite low carb (20-30 gms/day), but haven't felt up to doing much exercise. I did restart the metformin I had at home to try and help, but its not really been long enough for it to start working.

Just curious for those of you've who've been sick, how long did you see higher than usual #s? I've not really been sick since diagnosis until recently. I came down with a cold over this past new Years holiday and had to up my meds and totally change my life style to bring my numbers back down again. The cold lasted about a two months. It turns out I was having a bad reaction to the vitamin-C I was taking to fight the cold it was raising my BG at a 100 points everytime I took it.:eek:

[jerryn]

If I have I'm sick (not often but at least twice/year) My glucose is at least 40 points higher than my regular numbers.