Blood glucose and ilness: some tips

Every time I get sick, in this case a cold, I'm reminded by how much it has an impact on my blood glucose levels.

To give you a better idea, on the right you'll find a comparison between my time in range from (A) the time when I was sick and (B) a couple of weeks before, feeling healthy.

Right away you can tell that my blood glucose was elevated. When healthy, my time in range (70 -150mg/dl) is usually around 90%. When getting sick, this fell to 79%. Additionally, I had more hyperglycemic episodes, and I noticed my overall blood glucose average being elevated (19% above 150mg/dl), including a higher need for insulin, even in a fasted state.

Here are some of my personal take aways when dealing with an ilness like a cold as a patient with type 1 diabetes:

• Be patient, and don't attempt to overcorrect your hyperglycemia with too much extra insulin out of frustration. You'll end up on a rollercoaster of highs and lows. Do keep in mind that insulin sensitivity goes down, and insulin resistance goes up the higher your blood glucose.

• Correct your blood glucose slowly and in small amounts: When expiencing hyperglycemia, you need more insulin to go down than you would when you're in range due to insulin resistance. From my experience, it's better and safer to manually correct with multiple small amounts of insulin (like 1 or 2 units) spread out over time, than it is to give more than 5 units at once out of impatiece. I also keep in mind that insulin takes from anywhere between 3 (short acting) to 36 hours (ultra long acting) to be broken down completely.

• Expect higher blood glucose levels in general, at least for a couple of days, and I remind myself that this is a temporary thing. Totally unfair though, right? As if being sick by itself wasn't annoying enough, I have to cope with high blood glucose as well...?! Breathe, and be patient Hans...

• Focus on getting better (obviously), which is not so obvious for me, as I love to stay physically and mentally active. I remind myself that rest days are a MUST, and try to get more sleep. Even getting in a nap during the day can help out!

• Stay hydrated: blood glucose is dependant on the amount of fluids in our bodies, particularly in the blood vessels. When in a state of dehydration, glucose as well as insulin can't properly reach peripheral blood vessels, and the cells that lie next to them. This leads to an increased blood glucose concentration, which in term leads to increased insulin resistance. In addition, you tend to have to go to the bathroom more often, ridding you from even more liquids in your body. Do yourself a favor and break this cycle, or better yet, prevent it by staying hydrated and drinking enough water. Keep in mind: tea and coffee are diuretic, which means they'll actually rid you of more liquids than they help you gain.

Stay healthy!

Hans