It's a good idea for everyone to get both the seasonal flu shot and the H1N1 shot, but if you have diabetes, it becomes critical. There are several reasons for that, chief among them the changes the flu causes in blood sugar levels.
Scientists start working on the next seasonal flu well before the season starts. Since the flu mutates quickly, people need to get the shot once a year. So far, H1N1 has not mutated...which is good news.
Symptoms of the flu include a high fever, muscle pain, severe headache, sore throat, cough and runny nose. It also leaves its victims feeling very weak. Some of the symptoms can linger for weeks.
Cold and flu medications are great for most people, but they can present quite a problem for the diabetic. Most liquid medications are very high in sugar. A bad idea in the best of times, but even worse when dealing with the flu, which also plays havoc with blood sugar levels.
The same holds true with most cough drops. Even should you find a sugar free cough drop, you'll want to exercise some care. Eucalyptus can affect blood sugar levels as well.
Should you catch the flu, you're going to have to increase the number of times you check your blood sugar. One reason for this is that it's hard to tell what the levels are doing when you feel that miserable. The ADA suggests you check it every three to four hours...and to also check ketones. If you can't control these at home, you may need to go to the doctor or the emergency room.
The virus may cause you to not want to eat or drink anything, but that isn't an option. Instead, it small amounts from your regular meal plan. Instead of a full meal, eat about fifteen grams of carbohydrates about once an hour. This can translate to a slice of toast, 3/4 of a cup of yogurt or a cup of soup. Make sure you drink plenty of fluids, though use caution with fruit juices.
Scientists start working on the next seasonal flu well before the season starts. Since the flu mutates quickly, people need to get the shot once a year. So far, H1N1 has not mutated...which is good news.
Symptoms of the flu include a high fever, muscle pain, severe headache, sore throat, cough and runny nose. It also leaves its victims feeling very weak. Some of the symptoms can linger for weeks.
Cold and flu medications are great for most people, but they can present quite a problem for the diabetic. Most liquid medications are very high in sugar. A bad idea in the best of times, but even worse when dealing with the flu, which also plays havoc with blood sugar levels.
The same holds true with most cough drops. Even should you find a sugar free cough drop, you'll want to exercise some care. Eucalyptus can affect blood sugar levels as well.
Should you catch the flu, you're going to have to increase the number of times you check your blood sugar. One reason for this is that it's hard to tell what the levels are doing when you feel that miserable. The ADA suggests you check it every three to four hours...and to also check ketones. If you can't control these at home, you may need to go to the doctor or the emergency room.
The virus may cause you to not want to eat or drink anything, but that isn't an option. Instead, it small amounts from your regular meal plan. Instead of a full meal, eat about fifteen grams of carbohydrates about once an hour. This can translate to a slice of toast, 3/4 of a cup of yogurt or a cup of soup. Make sure you drink plenty of fluids, though use caution with fruit juices.
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