Hi there…I have never shared before but have gleaned so much from the tu diabetes community. Now, though, I would like to ask if anyone has found that colds and flu are longer due to having diabetes? I have had this cold for three weeks now. My numbers have not been high, but over the last week I have had a piece of cake once a day (which is really unusual for me.) It for sure spikes my bs to about 180 but it then drops again and I stay around 130. Any thoughts or experience
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i understand that our immunities are lower due to diabetes. when i get a cold, which is rare, every year or two, i go to the doctor and get antibiotics the fast kind a pack of 5 pills, one per day, zythromycin or some similar name. i take a multi vitamin every day. when i am sick my blood sugar runs higher. fortunately, i don’t get sick often. i also had strep once when i did not know i was diabetic. i had gestational diabetes, after the twins were born, i thought diabetes went away and it did not. i was so sick with the strep, i had to have someone drive me to the doctor for medication.
i suggest you go to doctor. i can’t handle being sick and 3 weeks is 2.5 weeks longer than i would wait to see the doctor! hope you feel better soon!
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I get sick rarely, but I have on occasion had colds that last weeks on end. Typically they only last a few days, though.
I think it’s a bad idea to run out and get antibiotics for every single cold. That’s how antibiotic-resistant infections get started. Not good at all. I would only use antibiotics for an infection that had been confirmed (though a culture) that I needed to take antibiotics for.
Also, we are in allergy season right now. So if you find your “cold” just drags on, you may actually have developed allergies. Adults can develop allergies at any time, even if you’ve never had them before. So it might be something to look into if your cold doesn’t go away soon.
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I was just reading about pollen count in my area and It’s unseasonably high. After, I looked at the symptoms and realized that is probably what it is. Thank you for your input. (It makes me feel less sick and more allergy-y😉).
And to Yoga “friend.” Going to the doctor is a good idea. I have a great endocrinologist but not such a good gp. Time to scout one out in my area. Again thanks for your responses.
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My husband and I both had a stomach ache/draggy tired/achey feeling for two and a half wks recently. My sugars didn’t go up either but I felt really bad. I think it’s a weird bad year for colds and bugs, at least in the Midwest. Hope you are feeling better soon. I do think that either because of type 1 diabetes or because I have a low IgA (immune deficiency that means I have fewer antibodies to fight bus, that I get sick more often than others and it does take more time to get well. But I have had diabetes so long it’s hard to know what life without it was like.
I’m glad you like this site. Me too! Feel better soon and know we are all rooting for you!
I’m Type 1, but I actually tend to have notably shorter/milder than usual colds, viral infections, etc—I’ve always attributed that to my overly reactive immune system. Pro: it’s really good at killing germs! Con: also really good at killing islet cells…
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Even though I have a lot of fatigue and have cut myself before, when it comes to being sick, I haven’t felt too much of a difference in the length of time the colds last compared to how it usually takes cuts and scratches to heal. Either way, I had a really bad case of the flu a few weeks ago and it was just terrible. I thought I was gonna die at that point and it completely screwed up the excercise regimen I had planned for that day. 
I’ve been TI for 32 years and always get hit hard by colds and flu. (Even with flu shot) This year I had pneumonia from October to February! I know this was due to my compromised immune system. My sugar runs higher and I seem to get thrown on a roller coaster of highs and lows. I have noticed this particular year with crazy weather patterns, many have complained about lengthy illnesses.Even those who say they never get sick are falling victim to this year’s bag of sick tricks. Lots of rest, water and extra blood sugar checks are in order! Hope all is well very soon!
Erin_NC
April 11
I’ve been TI for 32 years and always get hit hard by colds and flu. (Even with flu shot) This year I had pneumonia from October to February! I know this was due to my compromised immune system. My sugar runs higher and I seem to get thrown on a roller coaster of highs and lows. I have noticed this particular year with crazy weather patterns, many have complained about lengthy illnesses.Even those who say they never get sick are falling victim to this year’s bag of sick tricks. Lots of rest, water and extra blood sugar checks are in order! Hope all is well very soon!Visit Topic or reply to this email to respond.
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I’m not reading answers to your questions until I answer you so I am not unduly influenced.
When I catch something since dx, I’ve found it takes me 3 X plus to get over it. But I’ve since discovered some things that have helped me so much that many times I’ve AVOIDED illness altogether by doing the following:
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Pneumovax - All t1d’s ARE eligible. (Despite my initially being wrongly refused).
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Zinc - 50-100 mg 2X Daily whenever I’m exposed to everything Grandkiddies catch at school. (But must start immediately with suspected exposure or as soon as symtoms appear.
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Floragen3 - whenever any tummy flu visits me or I have an exposure. Godsend!!! (Replaces the good bacteria in GI). Also take when even on antibiotics as they often kill off ‘good’ bacteria in GI tract.
All recommendations based on past experience and most definitely positive results for ME! YDMV.
I have tried my best to fight at the first sign of any illness. I have an organic, whole food, low carb diet. Exercise 5-6 days week including yoga. Probiotics, prebiotics, kambucha, tea, vitamins etc. I don’t want to believe that this disease has the upper hand but sometimes it wins. This year was a doozie!
Elizabeth, I so hear you!!
I catch so many illnesses from my Grandchildren…the first was a chest cold they had for 10 days. Mine lasted 3 miserable months. Now when they are ill I immediately start taking 100 mg Zinc once or twice a day if they have respiratory/nasal illness. If they have N/V/D I take Floragen3 BID. Since I started my protocol I’ve never ‘caught’ anything again.
One word of caution when taking Zinc - take with food or you may get nauseaus for 60-75 mins.
Also - get pneumovax (vaccine). My Hospitalist said insurance wouldn’t pay because I didn’t meet the criteria (too young-57), but I knew better and got from PCP. Any diabetic is eligible. It’s good for 10 yrs.
Great advice. Thank you. I am happy to say that after 4 weeks I am happily recovering. But it is so reassuring that it takes others a longer time to recover.
Off topic, but - I seriously cut myself twice that absolutely needed stitches. I used super glue instead, as the ER docs told me it’s the same as medical grade. Healed with no complications.