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How illness affects blood sugar levels

Q: Can illness affect blood sugar levels?

Krishna: Yes!

Before getting into specific details, first let us understand what makes the blood sugar rise and fall

What makes it rise?(1)

Too much food, such as a meal or snack with more carbohydrates than usual

Not being active

Not enough insulin or oral diabetes medications

Side effects from other medications, such as steroids or antipsychotic medications

Illness—your body releases hormones to fight the illness, and those hormones raise blood glucose levels

Stress, which can produce hormones that raise blood glucose levels

Short- or long-term pain, such as pain from a sunburn—your body releases hormones that raise blood glucose levels

Menstrual periods, which cause changes in hormone levels

Dehydration

Now what makes it fall?(1)

Not enough food, such as a meal or snack with fewer carbohydrates than usual or a missed meal or snack

Alcohol, especially on an empty stomach

Too much insulin or oral diabetes medications

Side effects from other medications

More physical activity or exercise than usual—physical activity makes your body more sensitive to insulin and can lower blood glucose

Now what makes blood glucose levels rise during illness?

Illness typically causes blood sugar levels to rise because the body releases stress hormones to fight the infection .

These are the specific reasons

Stress Hormones: Fever and infections trigger your body to release stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline.
More Sugar Production: These hormones tell your liver to release extra glucose into your blood to give you energy.
Insulin Resistance: Inflammation and sickness make your body less sensitive to insulin, meaning sugar cannot easily enter your cells.
Unpredictability: Poor appetite, vomiting, or certain medications (like steroids) can also make blood sugar swing high or drop low unexpectedly.

But you can manage blood sugar when sick by following these things

Keep Drinking Water: Sip water or sugar-free fluids every hour to avoid dehydration.
Test Frequently: Check your blood sugar more often.
Test for Ketones: If you have Type 1 diabetes and high blood sugar, test your urine or blood for ketones.
Never Stop Insulin: Continue taking your insulin or diabetes medications even if you cannot eat regular meals and ask your doctor for guidance in this regard. Swap solid food for carb-containing liquids or semi-solids if needed.

Footnotes:

1. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5898168/

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