No one likes getting infected with a nasty flu – especially those living with a chronic illness such as diabetes. As someone who has lived with type 1 diabetes for almost 10 years, I take a lot of precautions during the flu season to keep myself as safe and as flu-free as possible! I know that because I live with a chronic illness I’m a lot more susceptible to catching seasonal viruses, as well as getting hit harder if I am infected with one.
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Type 1 diabetes has the ability to compromise one’s immune system, especially when blood glucose levels are out of control. It’s important for immunocompromised people to take extra care to stay healthy and calm while the flu is floating around. Here are some suggestions to help you feel your strongest during the flu season so you can prevent yourself from getting sick and focus on what matters to you!
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Blood Glucose Control
As briefly mentioned above, it is extremely important to keep blood glucose within your personal green zone range (determined by your health care professionals) as often as possible. Be mindful of big glucose spikes after dinners, over-indulging and eating foods that have an adverse effect on your levels. Having high glucose causes inflammation in the body which puts it at a disadvantage when trying to fight off viruses and other illnesses.
When blood glucose is in range, the body is stronger and better at preventing the contraction of viruses. That being said, if there is a specific time of day, or an issue you’ve been experiencing where your blood glucose levels are rising, it’s more important than ever to get them sorted out. I suggest talking to your endocrinologist about the specific issue and keeping track of your food and medication doses for a week to better determine the culprit for the undesired blood glucose level.