Type 2 Diabetes – Infections Are a Threat to Blood Glucose Levels

Your body is really smart!  It can recognize infections before there are any obvious signs, even up to one or two days before.  So if you have type 2 diabetes and your blood glucose levels have increased for no apparent reason, watch out for other signs of hidden infection.  Infection is a very common reason for these levels to rise.  Any of the following could be the cause:

• a cold,
• a bad tooth or gum infection.  Diabetics are at a greater risk of developing gum disease, including gingivitis and sore bleeding gums.
• a foot sore.  You can injure your feet without knowing it   
• urinary tract infection.  Women who use a diaphragm for birth control are more likely to have urinary tract infection than women who use other forms of birth control
• an ear infection … whatever you can think of. 

They all tend to raise your blood glucose level.  Even a small cut or a cough you have hardly noticed can do this.  As the infection heals, of course your levels will recover.

Infections that usually raise blood sugar levels:

• are more common and are usually associated with a fever
• involve higher levels of stress hormones and other factors.  Your body produces cortisol and other hormones that interfere with your usual insulin production
• may involve ketones appearing in the urine
• are usually connected to feelings of lethargy, irritability, muscle aches, headaches and fever

This is really essential care so you can return your body to good health: 

• see your health care provider as you may need to treat the underlying infection with antibiotics or other medications
• take relief if you have a high temperature, headache or muscle aches and pains.  Check if you are able to take regular paracetamol or an alternative
• get enough rest so your body has energy to fight the infection
• drink plenty of fluids.  Due to the elevated temperature you will be losing fluid, and because of high glucose levels you will be urinating more frequently.  Depending on how high your glucose levels are, drink water or low joule/calorie drinks. 

Some illness will cause your blood glucose levels to go low.  Low levels are associated with:

• nausea
• vomiting and/or diarrhea. Contact your health care provider if this persists for over 6 hours.

Curing infections depends on tracking down and correcting the underlying problem.  Having type 2 diabetes doesn’t have to be a struggle but you really do need to take care of yourself.