Steps To Take Inorder To Avoid The Flu
Have you had your seasonal flu and H1N1 shots yet? It’s best for everyone to get these, but if you have diabetes it is crucial. The flu can actually cause changes in your blood sugar levels. The flu mutates very quickly, which is why you need to get a flu shot every year. Scientists start working on the next season’s flu shot well before the season begins. Fortunately, H1N1 has not yet mutated. You don’t want to get the flu. It is a miserable experience. It causes high fever, muscle pain, severe headache, sore throat, cough, and runny nose. If you have the flu, you can expect to feel weak as a kitten. Worse, the symptoms can linger for weeks. Diabetics often can’t get effective symptom relief, either. The over-the-counter medicines that most people use to treat cold and flu are often inappropriate for diabetics. The liquid medicines are usually full of sugar to make them more palatable. You can’t take them, because during flu your blood sugar may already be in flux. Adding a bunch of sugar to the mix is a really bad idea. Cough drops are also iffy. Most have sugar in them. Of the ones that don’t, you still have to watch for eucalyptus, because this too can affect your blood sugar levels. If you do end up with the flu, you need to track your blood sugar very carefully. When you are feeling so crummy already, it can be tough to know if your blood sugar is doing weird things. It’s a good idea to test more frequently during the day. It’s a good idea to test every three to four hours, according to the ADA. They also recommend that you check ketones. If any of the results come back and indicate you are having trouble regulating these, you’ll want to check with your doctor or go to the ER. Be careful about your diet also. Having the flu can kill your appetite. As a diabetic, though, you can’t just not eat. You need to eat your regular meals, but in smaller amounts. Try to eat about fifteen grams of carbohydrates every hour. That’s not much food. It’s about one slice of toast, of a cup of yogurt, or a cup of soup. Take in plenty of fluids too. This iis the best way to stay on track diet-wise, when you can’t manage a full meal. See more of this writer’s work on items like the baby cashmere blankets and faux fur throws.
|

