When you’re living with diabetes, managing your blood sugar is already part of your daily routine. But when you catch a cold, the flu, or another illness, it can feel like your blood sugar suddenly has a mind of its own. Why does this happen? Let’s break it down in simple terms.

How illness affects your body

When you’re sick, your body sees the illness as stress. In response, it releases stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol. These hormones are meant to help your body fight infection by raising your blood sugar and making extra energy available.

If you don’t have diabetes, your body balances this out by using the extra sugar. But with diabetes, your body struggles to use that sugar efficiently. The result? Higher blood sugar levels during sick days.

The risks of high blood sugar

High blood sugar when you’re sick can sometimes make you feel worse and may even slow down your recovery. In more serious cases, it can lead to complications like:

• Hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) – the most common issue.
• Dehydration – from frequent urination when blood sugar runs high.
• Rare complications – such as Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA) or Hyperglycemic Hyperosmolar State (HHS).

What you can do

The good news is that you can take steps to stay safer when illness strikes:

• Check your blood sugar more often – this is the easiest and most effective way to spot problems early.
• Stick to your medications – take them as prescribed unless your provider tells you otherwise.
• Know when to call your doctor – don’t wait if you notice unusual symptoms, worsening illness, or very high readings.

Final thought

Every person’s sick-day needs are a little different. Ask your healthcare provider for clear, personalized sick-day instructions so you know exactly what to do when you aren’t feeling your best. Having a plan in place makes sick days less stressful and helps you get back on track faster. Check out our other article here for 6 Tips To Control Blood Sugar On Sick Days.