Medically reviewed by Anna Goldman, MD.
Earlier than I got here down with a nasty chilly final February, it had been years since I’d been sick — not even COVID-19 felled me. So, my medication chest and I had been unprepared with over-the-counter meds after I awoke with a sore throat from post-nasal drip, a foul cough, and a stuffy nostril. I dragged myself over to the neighborhood drug retailer to purchase cough medicine, cough drops, and a decongestant. However I used to be in no situation to cope with an aisle overflowing with each triangulation of choices and had no concept what influence any given medicine would have on my blood sugar. I lastly wilted underneath the stress and made some random choices so I might get again house and crawl into mattress.
If this has occurred to you, too, the hope is that this text will make clear the way to choose the correct medicine. Ideally, you’ll do that whenever you’re feeling effectively, forward of coming down with a chilly, flu, or seasonal allergic reactions. That approach you may top off on over-the-counter meds so must you get sick, you’re ready to care for your self with out additionally impacting your blood sugar.
Congestion
Perhaps you’re stuffed up as a result of you’ve got a chilly. Or possibly you’ve got allergic reactions. When you have diabetes, you would possibly need to be cautious of utilizing any product that options or consists of pseudoephedrine.
In keeping with the Mayo Clinic, pseudoephedrine works to open your nasal passages by constricting the blood vessels within the nostril, which are inclined to swell with extra blood to combat an infection. Pseudoephedrine is an lively ingredient in nasal decongestant merchandise together with:
- Sudafed
- Zyrtec-D
- Allegra-D
However this ingredient could trigger blood glucose ranges to rise, together with blood stress and coronary heart charge. Actually, the labels on these merchandise particularly embody diabetes of their record of circumstances wherein it’s best to, “Ask a physician earlier than use in case you have…”.
We’re not conscious of any proof that pseudoephedrine causes critical blood sugar issues, however it may be sensible to observe these instructions and seek the advice of your physician first.
Phenylephrine is one other frequent decongestant, often present in multisymptom drugs resembling:
- Advil Multi-Symptom Chilly & Flu
- Sudafed PE
- Vicks DayQuil Chilly & Flu
Phenylephrine, too, can enhance your blood sugar ranges, in line with the Mayo Clinic. There’s additionally one other good cause to query taking phenylephrine. In 2023, the FDA stated it could not work!
When you have allergic reactions, it’s possible you’ll be tempted to take an antihistamine like chlorpheniramine or diphenhydramine, which is the lively ingredient in Benadryl. Whereas antihistamines don’t straight influence blood sugar, they’ll make you drowsy, which may make it harder to trace your blood glucose ranges.
A nondrowsy antihistamine may be a greater possibility, resembling:
Nonetheless an alternative choice for allergy victims is a category of medication referred to as intranasal steroids or corticosteroids. This consists of nasal sprays like Flonase, with the lively ingredient of fluticasone propionate. Although some steroid remedies can straight trigger hyperglycemia, at least one research has proven that intranasal steroids don’t have any influence on blood sugar ranges in folks with diabetes.
Simply bear in mind that some medication mix a number of lively components, resembling Zyrtec-D, which has each cetirizine and pseudoephedrine. Learn the label and verify first together with your physician if you happen to’re involved.
There are additionally nonmedical methods to ease congestion, in line with the Cleveland Clinic, together with:
- Taking a scorching bathe
- Consuming scorching liquids like water, tea, and, sure, hen soup
- Staying hydrated with water
- Nasal irrigation utilizing a neti pot
- Consuming spicy meals
- Use a humidifier
- Use a saline nasal spray
- Open up nasal passages by making use of an adhesive strip
Coughing
There are two basic kinds of cough medication. Cough suppressants make you cough much less usually. Expectorants make it easier to take away extra mucus whenever you cough.
The commonest OTC cough suppressant makes use of dextromethorphan, together with the next medicines and plenty of others:
- Robitussin Most Energy (and plenty of different Robitussins)
- Vicks Components 44
- DayQuil Cough
The commonest expectorant is guaifenesin, present in Mucinex and plenty of different manufacturers. Dextromethorphan and guaifenesin are sometimes utilized in mixture; these mixture medication usually have the initials DM of their names, resembling Robitussin DM.
We might discover no indication within the analysis that both of those two components is dangerous for folks with diabetes. Actually, there’s one research exhibiting that dextromethorphan will increase insulin ranges and improves glucose tolerance amongst sort 2 diabetes sufferers.
Although the lively components could also be completely secure, there’s an enormous however right here, nevertheless: sugary “excipients” (inactive components). Cough syrups and cough drops usually embody sugar for a wide range of causes.
Sadly, if you happen to attempt to verify the labels they record solely the ingredient names, not quantities, making it difficult to judge what number of carbs are in a single dose. Some sources report {that a} shot of NyQuil, for instance, has 19 grams of carbohydrates! In lots of instances, you may decide as a substitute for diabetic variations that include synthetic sweeteners.
Fever, Aches, and Ache Reduction
The ultimate element of a nasty chilly or flu might be fever, aches, or pains. Fever reducers are typically thought of secure to take over-the-counter, however there just a few troubling stories within the medical literature.
There’s some proof that nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication (NSAIDs) like aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen are related to dangerous occasions in folks with diabetes. NSAIDs can enhance insulin launch from beta cells, which may decrease blood sugar, however could trigger hypoglycemia in folks utilizing glucose-lowering medicine resembling sulfonylureas. Moreover, a 2023 research discovered that short-term use of NSAIDs is linked to coronary heart failure amongst folks with sort 2 diabetes. In fact, it’s best to verify together with your physician to seek out out if you should use it brief time period.
The higher alternative could also be acetaminophen (like Tylenol) to handle fever. There’s no proof that it impacts blood sugar ranges. However a 2019 research discovered that older sufferers with sort 2 diabetes taking acetaminophen had thrice the danger of getting a stroke.
Acetaminophen has one other stunning impact. American Diabetes Affiliation states that some steady glucose monitor sensors might be affected by acetaminophen and provides false readings. The Dexcom G7, as an illustration, could falsely present elevated readings if you happen to take multiple gram of acetaminophen each six hours. However, FreeStyle Libre has discovered minimal influence and the producer has issued no warning. Learn your person guide to be taught if this may very well be a possible situation.
Sick Day Administration
Being sick with diabetes is usually a irritating and even harmful expertise as a result of sicknesses just like the flu may cause quickly escalating blood sugar ranges and enhance the danger of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA).
When you haven’t thought of the way to plan for sick days within the context of getting diabetes, we’ve some good ideas right here. Moreover, beneath are a number of takeaways that can assist you wrap your head round the way to deal with your physique whenever you’re downed with a chilly or seasonal allergic reactions whilst you’re residing with diabetes:
- Be ready. Discuss together with your physician at your subsequent bodily or ship a be aware asking about what you may and can’t take when it comes to over-the-counter drugs, after which top off on them earlier than it’s possible you’ll want them. Even have all the opposite provides it’s possible you’ll want, like a thermometer, containers of facial tissues, adhesive respiration strips, a neti pot, a saline spray, hen or vegetable soup, decaffeinated tea, and a humidifier.
- Learn labels. Do not forget that many OTC medicines aren’t essentially stand-alone formulation. A chilly or allergy treatment could embody a wide range of lively and inactive components, and a few will not be wholesome for folks with diabetes. Ensure no matter is listed is secure for you. Solely choose what you want. When you have a stuffy nostril from an allergy, you most likely don’t additionally want a cough suppressant. If the labels are complicated, converse to a pharmacist to get clarification on what your most suitable option is.
- Be vigilant about measuring your blood sugar. Simply the bodily stress of being sick may cause your blood sugar to rise.
- Ask your physician if you happen to ought to regulate your insulin or oral drugs, particularly if the OTC meds might influence their effectiveness.
- Ensure you have loads of your regular diabetes provides all the time readily available.
