DIABETES is not like the flu – you can’t catch it from other diabetics but diabetes makes you more vulnerable to flu.
Diabetes is the chronic insulin problem which causes trouble with your body’s ability to convert sugars into energy.
Many over-the-counter flu medications contain ingredients with high sugar content. Taking them could lead to sugar level issues.
To avoid flu-diabetes complications this flu season use these tips:
- Wash your hands often and avoid contacting those with colds or flu.
- Get active – walk, go to gym, swim or do some any other exercises to keep active.
- Avoid stressful exercises – exercise is really good for the immune system but overdoing it may stress your immune system and make catching colds and flu easier.
- Eat a lot of leafy greens and other vegetables such as lettuce, cabbage, spinach, broccoli, winter squashes, carrots and sweet potatoes.
- Spice up your life with garlic, ginger, turmeric and cayenne pepper and avoid sugary sauces.
- Beware of dairy products – dairy forms mucous and if you have the flu, it makes the slimy lungs and runny nose worse.
- Drink water – dried mucous membranes are more vulnerable to inflammation and irritation.
- Eat a lot of citrus fruit, melons, berries, red pepper, parsley and broccoli for their vitamin C.
- If you contract the flu virus, stay home and rest.
While this is good idea for everyone, it is more important for diabetics to heed this advice.
Going to work while sick just means that you’ll end up spreading the virus to more people, which means you are more likely to catch a newer flu strain.