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 drugs chest and I have been unprepared with over-the-counter meds once I awoke with a sore throat from post-nasal drip, a nasty cough, and a stuffy nostril. I dragged myself over to the neighborhood drug retailer to purchase cough treatment, cough drops, and a decongestant. However I used to be in no situation to take care of an aisle overflowing with each triangulation of choices and had no concept what impression any given treatment would have on my blood sugar. I lastly wilted below the strain and made some random picks so I may get again dwelling and crawl into mattress.
If this has occurred to you, too, the hope is that this text will make clear how you can choose the appropriate treatment. Ideally, you’ll do that once you’re feeling effectively, forward of coming down with a chilly, flu, or seasonal allergy symptoms. That approach you possibly can replenish on over-the-counter meds so must you get sick, you’re ready to handle your self with out additionally impacting your blood sugar.
Congestion
Possibly you’re stuffed up as a result of you’ve got a chilly. Or possibly you’ve got allergy symptoms. In case you have diabetes, you may need to be cautious of utilizing any product that options or contains pseudoephedrine.
Based on 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 battle an infection. Pseudoephedrine is an energetic 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 strain and coronary heart fee. In actual fact, the labels on these merchandise particularly embody diabetes of their record of situations by which you need to, “Ask a health care provider earlier than use in case you have…”.
We’re not conscious of any proof that pseudoephedrine causes severe blood sugar issues, however it may be good to observe these instructions and seek the advice of your physician first.
Phenylephrine is one other frequent decongestant, normally present in multisymptom medicines akin to:
- Advil Multi-Symptom Chilly & Flu
- Sudafed PE
- Vicks DayQuil Chilly & Flu
Phenylephrine, too, can improve your blood sugar ranges, in accordance with the Mayo Clinic. There’s additionally one other good purpose to query taking phenylephrine. In 2023, the FDA mentioned it could not work!
In case you have allergy symptoms, chances are you’ll be tempted to take an antihistamine like chlorpheniramine or diphenhydramine, which is the energetic ingredient in Benadryl. Whereas antihistamines don’t immediately impression blood sugar, they’ll make you drowsy, which might make it harder to trace your blood glucose ranges.
A nondrowsy antihistamine may be a greater possibility, akin to:
Nonetheless an alternative choice for allergy victims is a category of medicine referred to as intranasal steroids or corticosteroids. This contains nasal sprays like Flonase, with the energetic ingredient of fluticasone propionate. Although some steroid therapies can immediately trigger hyperglycemia, at least one examine has proven that intranasal steroids haven’t any impression on blood sugar ranges in individuals with diabetes.
Simply remember that some medication mix a number of energetic elements, akin to Zyrtec-D, which has each cetirizine and pseudoephedrine. Learn the label and examine first together with your physician if you happen to’re involved.
There are additionally nonmedical methods to ease congestion, in accordance with the Cleveland Clinic, together with:
- Taking a sizzling bathe
- Ingesting sizzling 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 normal kinds of cough drugs. Cough suppressants make you cough much less usually. Expectorants make it easier to take away extra mucus once you cough.
The commonest OTC cough suppressant makes use of dextromethorphan, together with the next medicines and plenty of others:
- Robitussin Most Power (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, akin to Robitussin DM.
We may discover no indication within the analysis that both of those two elements is dangerous for individuals with diabetes. In actual fact, there may be one examine exhibiting that dextromethorphan will increase insulin ranges and improves glucose tolerance amongst sort 2 diabetes sufferers.
Although the energetic elements could also be completely protected, there’s a giant however right here, nevertheless: sugary “excipients” (inactive elements). Cough syrups and cough drops usually embody sugar for quite a lot of causes.
Sadly, if you happen to attempt to examine the labels they record solely the ingredient names, not quantities, making it difficult to guage 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 possibly can decide as an alternative for diabetic variations that comprise synthetic sweeteners.
Fever, Aches, and Ache Reduction
The ultimate element of a nasty chilly or flu may be fever, aches, or pains. Fever reducers are usually thought-about protected 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 individuals with diabetes. NSAIDs can improve insulin launch from beta cells, which might decrease blood sugar, however could trigger hypoglycemia in individuals utilizing glucose-lowering treatment akin to sulfonylureas. Moreover, a 2023 examine discovered that short-term use of NSAIDs is linked to coronary heart failure amongst individuals with sort 2 diabetes. In fact, you need to examine together with your physician to search out out if you should use it quick 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 examine discovered that older sufferers with sort 2 diabetes taking acetaminophen had thrice the chance of getting a stroke.
Acetaminophen has one other shocking impact. American Diabetes Affiliation states that some steady glucose monitor sensors may 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 impression and the producer has issued no warning. Learn your consumer guide to be taught if this may very well be a possible situation.
Sick Day Administration
Being unwell 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 improve the chance of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA).
Should you haven’t thought-about how you can plan for sick days within the context of getting diabetes, we’ve got some good ideas right here. Moreover, under are a number of takeaways that will help you wrap your head round how you can deal with your physique once you’re downed with a chilly or seasonal allergy symptoms at the same time as you’re residing with diabetes:
- Be ready. Discuss together with your physician at your subsequent bodily or ship a observe asking about what you possibly can and can’t take when it comes to over-the-counter medicines, after which replenish on them earlier than chances are you’ll want them. Even have all the opposite provides chances are you’ll want, like a thermometer, packing containers of facial tissues, adhesive respiratory strips, a neti pot, a saline spray, hen or vegetable soup, decaffeinated tea, and a humidifier.
- Learn labels. Keep in mind that many OTC medicines aren’t essentially stand-alone formulation. A chilly or allergy treatment could embody quite a lot of energetic and inactive elements, and a few might not be wholesome for individuals with diabetes. Be certain no matter is listed is protected for you. Solely choose what you want. In case you have a stuffy nostril from an allergy, you most likely don’t additionally want a cough suppressant. If the labels are complicated, communicate 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 modify your insulin or oral medicines, particularly if the OTC meds may impression their effectiveness.
- Be sure to have loads of your typical diabetes provides all the time available.
