How are cold and flu related to diabetes?

When you have a serious underlying condition like diabetes, catching a cold or coming down with the flu can be more uncomfortable than it is for people who don’t have it. Handling the runny nose, the headaches and the fever, alongside keeping up with the diets required to manage diabetes, can be quite stressful. In addition to that, people who have diabetes have to be very careful about the medication they take – cold and flu medication may contain chemicals which are dangerous for diabetics.

Most cold and flu medications contain inactive and active ingredients. Inactive ingredients are food coloring, flavoring and substances which maintain consistency. These can contain sugars and alcohol which affect the blood sugar of a diabetic.

Active ingredients are the chemicals in the drug that do the actual work. These are the substances that treat the symptoms, and they may also interfere with the blood sugar level. One such chemical, Acetaminophen, reduces minor aches and fevers but can damage a diabetic’s kidneys. Another drug, Epinephrine, unclogs nasal passages but also raises the blood pressure. Taking the wrong drug can pose serious health risks  – the wisest course of action for a diabetic is to consult a doctor, before taking any kind of medication at all.