Diabetes prevents colds

The core logic for diabetics to prevent colds is never to rely on taking folk remedies and supplements to "build up immunity"; Stabilize blood sugar base + reduce exposure risk in a targeted manner + early light intervention The combination of the three must not follow the ordinary people's habit of "just carry it", otherwise it will easily induce acute complications such as lung infection and ketoacidosis.

Believe it or not, Uncle Zhang, a diabetic friend I met before, has been with diabetes for 12 years and has always controlled his glycation at 6.7%. He feels that his health is no worse than that of young people. During the flu season last winter, he didn’t even bother to wear a mask.

There are actually two extreme opinions on preventing colds in the diabetic community. One side says that diabetic patients have such poor immunity that they will collapse at the first sign of wind, so it is best not to go out during the flu season. The other side says that as long as their blood sugar is well controlled, they are no different from normal people and do not need to take special precautions. Both statements actually only account for half of the truth. To put it bluntly, a long-term high-sugar environment is a "petri dish" for bacteria and viruses. Even if your glycation is stuck at the standard line, small stimuli such as seasonal cooling or staying up late will temporarily increase blood sugar. In addition, abnormal sugar metabolism will damage the defense function of the respiratory mucosa. Under the same virus exposure, the probability of being infected is indeed 2-3 times higher than that of ordinary people. This is a conclusion that has been clinically proven. But if you stay at home every day without going out, your resistance will become worse and worse, and the gain will outweigh the loss.

Let’s talk about the most core thing of stabilizing blood sugar first. Don’t mess around with recipes when the seasons change. I met an old sugar lover a while ago. After autumn, I heard people say that Qiuli ointment can moisturize the lungs. I drank two tablespoons of it every day. Before I could prevent a cold, my blood sugar soared from 6.8 to 8.7. Just in time for someone at work to catch the flu, he was the first one to be infected. If you really want to moisten your throat, just boil some pear water without adding sugar. It is more reliable than any processed product. You can also check your blood sugar twice during the days when the temperature is cooling down. If you find that it is 0.5-1 points higher than usual, don't panic. Adjust your diet first. If you are really unsure, ask your doctor to adjust the dosage. Don't wait until your blood sugar gets too high before you take it seriously.

As for the question many people ask, should we eat vitamin C and propolis? To be honest, there is no unified conclusion at present. The mainstream clinical view is that daily intake of vitamin C from foods such as green leafy vegetables and kiwi fruit is enough. If you take extra vitamin C, do not exceed 100mg. Taking too much may affect blood sugar stability. ； As for propolis, there are indeed people with diabetes around me who say they have fewer colds after taking it, but there are also people who have not felt anything after taking it for more than half a year. There is no evidence-based basis in a large sample. If you take it without any adverse reactions and your blood sugar does not rise, you can use it as a supplement if you are willing to take it. Don’t expect to rely on it to prevent colds. IQ tax will not be affected, but don’t ignore the good.

Daily protection is not that complicated, and there is no need to create a sterile environment. During the flu season, just wear an ordinary medical mask when going to crowded places such as wet markets and supermarkets. If someone in the team dances with a cough and runny nose while dancing in the square, don't join in and join in the fun. There's nothing to be embarrassed about. When you get home, wash your hands and nose first, and rinse with saline for 10 seconds. Most of the viruses on the nasal mucosa can be washed away. I use this trick every year during the flu season. It is indeed better than any preventive medicine.

There is also the issue of whether to get the flu vaccine, which is also a fierce argument between the two sides. Some people say that taking it will cause a fever, while others say that it must be taken every year. In fact, as long as your blood sugar has been stable recently and there are no problems such as ketosis or acute infection, it is recommended, especially for those over 65 years old, as the protective effect is more effective than any supplement. If your blood sugar has been fluctuating recently, just wait until it is under control before taking the injection. After the infusion, wait for half an hour and wait until you feel no discomfort before walking. Don’t worry too much about the side effects.

If you really have symptoms of a cold such as nasal congestion or sore throat, don’t just take it for granted and check your blood sugar first. If your blood sugar is stable, drink more warm water, boil some sugar-free onion and ginger water and drink it for two days and you can basically suppress it. ； If your blood sugar has risen, quickly see your endocrinologist to adjust the dose. Don’t just buy cold medicine. The pseudoephedrine in many compound cold medicines will raise blood sugar. Most cough syrups contain sugar. Be sure to read the ingredient list before buying. If you are not sure, ask your doctor. Don’t take trivial matters lightly.

I have been doing health management for people with diabetes for almost 6 years. I have seen too many people who were hospitalized due to a minor cold. Most of them either thought they were in good health and did not take it seriously, or they were too anxious and took supplements blindly to raise their blood sugar. In fact, preventing colds is really not that complicated for people with diabetes. It is enough to control blood sugar stably and pay more attention to small details. Don't force yourself to do it.