How to treat a cold if you have diabetes

When an individual with diabetes gets a cold, what are safe remedies to take for symptoms like a sore throat, runny nose or cough?

Check out the following tips on how to treat a cold if you have diabetes.

General tips

Be aware that blood glucose levels often climb during illness. Don’t automatically assume this is due to cold medications. Blood glucose levels are often increased by stress hormones that are naturally released in response to illness.

Check blood glucose levels more frequently during illness to make sure they don’t get too high. Choose cold products that are recommended to have a minimal effect on blood glucose.

The easiest way to do this is to look for simple medications that are designed to treat single symptoms. These usually contain fewer ingredients that could cause glucose levels to spike.

For example, instead of choosing a product that promises to ease all cold symptoms, choose one designed for the symptom that’s causing the most discomfort. This means you might choose an analgesic to ease aches and pains and/or another medication to suppress a cough.

Over-the-counter cold medications

Your pharmacist is a great person to consult for advice on specific products. Most cough and cold preparations have sugar as a key ingredient.  However, there are several brands of products that are sugar-free.  Check out the Canadian Diabetes Product Directory on this website for a list of sugar-free cough and cold products available in Canada.  The following medications are commonly recommended:

• For aches, pains and fever – Acetaminophen (Tylenol® or store brands). Cautions: Not recommended for people with liver problems.

• For congestion and nose stuffiness – Pseudoephedrine (Sudafed®) and phenylephrine (Sudafed PE®) or store brands. Cautions: oral decongestants can cause an increase in blood pressure and blood glucose.

As an alternative, consider a nasal saline solution in drop, spray or rinse form. For example, NasalMist®, hydraSense® or NeilMed®.

• For runny nose and sneezing – Antihistamines like loratadine (Claritin® and store brands); cetirizine (Reactine® and store brands), desloratidine (Aerius® and store brands), and fexofenadine (Allegra® and store brands). These do not cause drowsiness like other antihistamines can do.

• To loosen phlegm and mucus – Guaifenesin. This expectorant has no effect on blood glucose. Look for it in products like Robitussin Chest Congestion®, Benylin®-E® and similar single ingredient store brands. Be aware that it is also found in multi-ingredient cold remedies, which are not recommended. Cautions: expectorants are best taken during the day with lots of fluids.

• To suppress a cough – Dextromethorphan (DM), found in products like Delsym® DM. It has no effect on blood glucose. Cautions: can impair thinking in older adults. Best taken at night when cough relief is needed most.

For more detailed information on these and other cold medications, see our expert pharmacist blogger’s article Managing symptoms of the common cold in people with diabetes.