[MelodyL]

Well, this is a curious week for me. I haven't been sick in so long, I don't remember. I take absolute care of ME so how the heck I got this cold, well I don't know. I use hand sanitizers, I never touch surfaces, I boost my immune system. But then again, I'm a human being, 63 and things happen.

Last Saturday I knew I was coming down with something, so I took some C and Zinc. (not too much because I've read of the dangers of too much zinc)

Didn't feel warm, felt fine, did NOT take my temp because I didn't feel warm. Went out about my business.

Next day, my chest was all congested. No sore throat, no aches, just coughing and congestion. I am not up all night coughing my brains out. I remember YEARS ago, I had a cold like that and it drove me nuts. This is not happening with this cold.

So I take my sugar and it's 180 or so every day. I am on 8 of the Lantus and I was getting in the 120s' I did not go on the internet and read about colds and it can cause the sugar to go up because the liver thinks there's an infection so it dumps glucose in the body. Never knew this. found this out the other day.

So I never thought to up my insulin. I would just eat what I eat and have some chicken soup during the day and hot tea. Even had a small amount of honey in the tea. Didnt' do a darn thing.

But my sugar (it's NEVER high in the afternoon), well it wasn't going down.

I said "let me go on the internet and see if having a bad cold can raise one's blood sugar" Well, boy did I find out a lot about that.

It seems that people double their basal insulin when they have a cold.

I never thought to do that in my life.

I would be afraid that it would drop so low in the pm.

I took my temp 4 days ago and it was 100 so I said "oh, I DO have a slight temp". took two aspirins.

Went down and it's been normal for the past 3 or 4 days. No sore throat, no earaches, no headaches, no nothing. Just lots of congestion. No wheezing. And I can take deep breaths. Over 30 years ago I had pneumonia and I know what that feels like and this is nothing like that. I always worry.

And my tongue is nice and pink so that's good.

I'm just wondering how long this rise in blood sugar is going to happen?

Oh, last night I took 9 1/2 of the Lantus and this morning it was still high so I took 3 more units.

Didn't change.

So tonight, do I take 13 of the Lantus.

I mean I don't want to kill myself here but I don't want to get these high readings all the time either.

My cold is winding down. I was able to go out to the store for 10 minutes and it felt good getting and breathing the fresh air. I bundled up.

No fever either. So that's good.

So essentially I have a bad cold, lots of congestion (I'm taking mucinex and it's breaking up). Using vicks.

I sleep just fine at night. No hacking cough keeping me awake and when I blow my nose all is clear so no infection.

so how long does a cold raise blood sugar?

Any advice is welcome.

I stopped the tea and honey (only took it 2 times) because of the high glycemic value of the honey.

thanks much

Melody
P.S. I can't believe I never read about a cold and how it can make one's blood sugar go up. I haven't been sick in YEARS!!!!
lol