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

Colds do not typically cause a high fever.

Flu does. So does bronchitis which is often a bacterial infection.
Pneumonia does both viral and bacterial.

If your fever persists, I'd see a doctor.

Sorry you are ill Mel. Take care of yourself!

Mrs. D.

Did you read MY thread? Because I never had a high fever. I had a reading of 100 about 4 days ago and it's been normal ever since. I did say this in my post. I wanted you to have ALL the facts.

I have absolutely no signs of any infection. No fever, no nothing, just mucus in my chest, which is breaking up because I'm on mucinex.

Thanks much

Melody
P.S. I checked my sugar right after I did this post and it went down almost 40 points.
Thank god. At least I can achieve this. Right now, It's 7:30 p.m. and it feels like my chest is drying out. Don't know how else to describe it. I had the most lovely piece of chicken and some bok choi and my taste buds are waking up too.

I am so sick of soup. lol.
I'm just not sure how much Lantus to inject myself with tonight. Even though my cold seems to be winding down, I don't know if I should give myself the usual 8 or go with the 12 because it's been high since I've gotten this cold.

I do not know how all the other diabetics figure out what to inject themselves with every day. I know people on 4 shots and 8 pills and I shudder to think what the heck would happen to me if I had to do that. Not that this won't happen to me when I get older, it probably will, but right now, I was doing just fine on 8 units of Lantus.

Hi Mrs. D.

Just wanted to thank you for your response. Today is the 7th day of this cold and still no fever after 4 days. So that's good. It's drying up. I went out and enjoyed the fresh air this morning. Still have a bit of a cough now and then but nothing horrendous. So whatever is in the mucinex, well thank god for that pill.

I have never been one to BRING UP STUFF when one coughs. My mother used to do that like a champ but it was never my thing. I have no idea why.

I wonder why some people can PRODUCE and some can't.

I never could.

This time either. It is just drying up (for want of a better description).

I also use my neti pot twice a day and blow my nose like crazy. All clear.

Oh, last night I took 10 units of the Lantus.

this morning it was down to 166.

All week is was 190. even on 9 units.

So I gather as my body heals so will my body's reaction to the Lantus. One can only hope.

I'm doing my part.

oh, I'm also taking Silver biotics. I always take that. It's a natural antibiotic (or so they say). They say "nothing can grow in a silver environment"

Maybe it's helping?

Who knows.

So Merry Christmas and take care

Melody