Lots of highs

[sportmom]

My daughter is 12 and is Type 1.  She has been sick with a sinus infection that we are now taking antibiotics for. Right after this she broke her finger during basketball practice.  So needless to say her blood sugars have been running high.  She had a few good days where they were back down to normal and now they are back up again.  Do you think this is from the sinus infection?  Yesterday was last day for antibiotics and I'm thinking I need to have refilled for another round because she is still coughing. We check 2 hours after meals and she normally has to take extra insulin.  It may or may not bring it back down.  She also usually is having to take extra at mealtime except for breakfast because she is running high.  Any suggestions or help is welcome.

[JDRF Volunteer WAK]

Most mediucations in liquid forms have carbs that ill raise the blood sugars. I contact the menufacturers and ask how many carbs are in the medication.  You would be surprised! If you do not know the manufacturer ask your pharmasist.  

Ny daughter has astham and between all the drugs that we sere giving her  she was having an extr 25 carbs that we were not accounting for.

[sportmom]

Thanks so much for your comments.  It helps a lot to hear from others going thru the same thing that we are doing it right.  Last night was the first night she was at a normal level at lantus time and then again at breakfast this morning!  Yippee!!

[JDRF-Team-sgg]

You are absolutely doing the right things with your daughter. I was diagnosed at age 12 and am now a healthy 47, so your daughter has many years ahead of her in which to figure out what affects her blood sugar levels. In my experience, and also in my conversations with other diabetics, ANY kind of infection, whether bacterial or viral, can cause blood sugar levels to rise while the body is fighting off the invaders. If her body is clear of bacteria, then she should not need more antibiotics, but your doctor may need to listen to her lungs to make sure she is not struggling with pneumonia. It may be a good idea to have him or her check her.

Until tje virus or bacteria is completely gone, her sugars may stay high. You are doing the absolute right thing in frequent testing and administering extra insulin if needed. I have found that when I am ill with a really bad virus and see a pattern of high glucose levels, I sometimes lower my carbohydrate intake a little just to ease the situation, adding the missing calories in foods that don't affect blood sugar like nuts and cheese. If her high readings are not responding to the extra insulin, you may want to look at helping her body function by lowering the carb intake some. Her doctor can advise you on this. The frequent tests are important because she can become hypoglycemic easily while taking extra insulin, and the testing is her protection against this danger.

Another thing that may be creating elevated glucose readings is the broken finger, for her body is trying to grow new bone as well as fight off infection. So this broken finger may be making the problem a little worse.

Unfortunately there is no simple magical solution to the problems you are experiencing. Other than slightly lowering carb intake, you are doing absolutely all you can do while her body heals. Last year, I came down with the flu in spite of taking the flu shot and found that blood sugar levels elevated so much that I went days with very few carbs at all, and the sugars never went below normal. Normally, this lack of carbs would put me into severe hypoglycemia, but while sick, my body just did not metabolize the carbs well at all. So other than perhaps having her doctor check her to see if she is still fighting bacteria, you are on the right track.

Hope she feels better soon.