"Sick Day Plan: Dealing With Colds and Flu When You Have Diabetes" – Hallie Levine
The cold and flu season is upon us. These winter months can be particularly perilous for people with diabetes. “When you have either type 1 or type 2 diabetes, your immune system is less able to fight infections,” explained David Lam, MD, medical director of the Clinical Diabetes Institute at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. As a result, you’re more likely to get sick – and to suffer complications from what otherwise might be a garden-variety case of the sniffles. But there are other risks, as well. “When you’re sick, your body releases more stress hormones, which in turn can raise blood sugar,” added Dr. Lam. That’s why it’s important to have a sick plan in place, so that you’re better able to manage your blood sugar, stay aware of symptoms, and seek medical attention if necessary.
— David W. Lam, MD, Medical Director, Clinical Diabetes Institute, Assistant Professor, Medicine, Endocrinology, Diabetes and Bone Disease, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai