Are you searching for the best allergy medicine for diabetes? If so, you are one of 50 million Americans who suffer from seasonal allergies. The good news? You’re not alone. The bad news? Allergy symptoms can be super annoying and wear you down.
So what do you do if we have diabetes and allergies? Is there a safe way to treat allergy symptoms without affecting blood sugar? I’m happy to report the answer is yes.
The best allergy medicine for diabetes
So how do you go about finding the best allergy medicine for diabetes? That’s exactly what we will break down here. So we’ll talk about allergies, symptoms, and how to help prevent or reduce symptoms naturally. And we’ll also unpack the types of medications available to help curb those watery eyes and sneezes, too.
Seasonal Allergies
It seems like some people really suffer from seasonal allergies, and some aren’t affected at all. What is it that triggers the allergic reaction? What kinds of symptoms do most people have? And what is the difference between allergies and a cold? Let’s take a look.
Allergic reaction Triggers
Common triggers include ragweed, tree pollen, mold, and grass. These kinds of allergy triggers (allergens) typically rear their ugly heads when seasons change. Tree pollen and grass pollen count most often rise in the spring and summer allergy season. Mold and ragweed are more typical in the fall.
When someone who has an allergic response to an allergen comes in contact with that substance, their body starts to release various chemicals to fight off what it sees as an intruder. That’s what causes the typical allergic symptoms.
Symptoms of Seasonal Allergies
There are a host of different allergic symptoms our bodies can experience. The most common are the following symptoms: watery and/or itchy eyes, runny nose, sneezing, itchy skin, and coughing. Others include nasal drainage, congestion, and fatigue.
Depending on the severity of the allergy, seasonal allergies can really wear a person down. In the case you feel fatigued from allergies or can’t seem to shake the symptoms, it’s wise to see your doctor or an allergist. They may want to do skin tests or blood work to determine the source of the problem.
Reducing Allergy Symptoms
One of the best medicines is prevention. Have you heard that? There are preventative measures to take so you can reduce the effects of allergies. Here are a few of the best ways to consider:
- Shower or at least change clothes after spending time outdoors.
- Keep doors and windows closed at peak allergy times.
- Vacuum the carpets and clean the floors often.
- Wear a hat while outdoors to keep pollen off your hair (and on your pillow and on your face at night).
allergies vs. cold
A cold is caused when your body comes into contact with a virus. With allergies, your body has come into contact with an allergen. So the cause for the symptoms is certainly different. There’s a difference in symptoms also.
Although the symptoms may be similar, there are some differences. For example, allergies will never produce a fever, but a cold might. A sore throat is common with a cold, but rare with allergies. Itchy eyes are common with allergies, but rare with a cold.
If you question what you’re dealing with, consult your healthcare professional.
Diabetes and Allergies
What happens when someone with diabetes has allergies? Are people with diabetes more susceptible to seasonal allergies? And what kind of diabetic symptoms might someone with allergies experience?
susceptibility
Someone who manages diabetes well and keeps blood sugar levels stable should not be any more susceptible to allergies than someone without diabetes. But a person without good blood glucose control may be more susceptible to illness in general. Long-term, uncontrolled diabetes negatively affects the immune system and increases susceptibility to disease and infection overall.
While you’re sick, your body secretes substances into the bloodstream than can raise blood glucose levels and cause insulin resistance. Unfortunately, that makes uncontrolled diabetes even harder to manage.
insulin resistance
While diabetics can experience insulin resistance with viruses and bacterial infections, most people don’t have insulin resistance with allergies. So allergies don’t generally cause insulin resistance like some other illnesses like viruses and bacteria can.
However, some allergy medicines can raise blood sugar and/or cause insulin resistance. So choosing an appropriate medicine to treat allergies is critically important.
The Best Allergy Medicine for Diabetes
If choosing the right medication is important, especially for those with diabetes, how do you go about making that decision? What different types of common allergy medications are there? And what should you look for to pick the best allergy medicine for diabetes?
Types of Allergy Meds
ANTIHISTAMINES
An antihistamine is a medication that blocks your body from reacting to the histamines your body produces when it has an allergic reaction. This type of medication comes in nasal sprays, eye drops, liquid form, and oral medications like pills. Some are over the counter allergy medications, and some require a prescription. The good news is that most antihistamines don’t affect blood glucose. So it’s relatively simple to get some relief and keep blood sugars in check.
COUGH SUPPRESSANTS
Most people with diabetes are just fine to use cough suppressants from time to time. One consideration is to make sure the brand you purchase is sugar free so it doesn’t raise blood glucose. If you have questions, consult your doctor.
DECONGESTANTS
These medications are typically used for quick relief of nasal congestion. They’re not intended for long-term use. They also are not recommended for people with certain other illnesses or conditions, as they can raise heart rate and cause high blood pressure levels, so do your research. Some decongestants can raise blood sugar, so people with diabetes should be vigilant and consult a doctor before starting to take this kind of medication.
CORTICOSTEROIDS
Like you would expect when you see the word “steroid,” a corticosteroid helps to lessen inflammation. This can be helpful to address swollen nasal passages and throat while it minimizes symptoms. However, as is common with steroids, these medications can raise blood sugar and cause insulin resistance. This is another one you’ll want your doctor to weigh in on.
IMMUNOTHERAPY
For severe allergies, someone may consider immunotherapy. Immunotherapy is meant to train the body’s immune system not to react to certain allergens. It’s done with careful monitoring by a doctor, and is typically an option when other treatments aren’t working.
What to Look for in the best allergy medicine for diabetes
So what kinds of things should someone with diabetes look for in an allergy medication? Here are the high points to get you started thinking.
SUGAR FREE
In the case you opt for a liquid medication to offset allergy symptoms, be sure there aren’t added sugars or alcohol in the medicine. And don’t trust the “sugar free” marking on the front. Read the actual list of ingredients on the back to know for sure the amount of sugar included or not.
NON DROWSY
It’s particularly important for someone with diabetes to look for a non-drowsy medication to treat allergies. Why? When we are drowsy, it may be more difficult to detect high or low blood sugar levels. Benadryl for hay fever and such comes to mind when I think of this kind of allergy medication, so be sure to read the label and choose a non drowsy option.
NON STEROID
When taking an allergy medication, look for one that is free of steroids. Steroids actually cause your body to be insulin resistant (or have high blood sugar called hyperglycemia), so I personally avoid them at all cost. If a steroid is necessary, consult your diabetes healthcare team on potentially adjusting your insulin doses while you are taking that medication.
Involving a Doctor
How do you know when you should reach out to your doctor for help? And what should you consider about adding medicines to the diabetes medication you already take?
When to contact your doctor
Someone with diabetes should always consult their doctor first thing, before taking a new medication. Different drugs can interact with each other, or affect someone with diabetes differently. So getting your health care team on board beforehand is a good idea.
Another great time to seek medical attention is if your over the counter medications aren’t working. Your doctor may want to try allergy shots or provide other options for you moving forward.
And of course, always reach out to your endocrinologist if you notice a change in your blood sugar levels.
Caution about Allergy Meds and Diabetes Meds
Here are my top three cautions on taking allergy medications as a diabetic:
- As I mentioned above, it’s always good to consult your doctor before taking a new medication. Some medicines can mix poorly with diabetes medications in various drug interactions. So chatting with your healthcare provider first can help avoid a potential issue.
- Be sure to read the packaging. Some allergy medications can cause drowsiness, which can make it more difficult to sense high or low blood sugar levels. Always opt for a non-drowsy choice! And some medications include added sugar, so be on the lookout for that too.
- Avoid steroids if at all possible when choosing an allergy medication. Steroids can cause insulin resistance and really wreak havoc with blood sugar levels.
Sick Days As a Diabetic
While you already have plenty of medical thoughts throughout your normal everyday life from having an existing medical condition, things can get a bit more complicated with a cold or allergies. As your body fights the infection or allergic reactions, your blood sugar can raise or drop throughout the day. Be sure to monitor your blood sugar levels more frequently than you normally would.
My other advice, just from personal experience with diabetes for three decades, is to get plenty of water and rest. When our bodies are fighting an illness we obviously need more rest than usual. And we don’t want to get dehydrated — that can cause an extra issue to handle on top of everything else. So keep the fluids flowing.
Important Note
Although I have personally lived with diabetes for more than 30 years myself, please know that none of this is medical advice, and none of this should be taken in place of the recommendations of your healthcare team.
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SOURCES:
Mayo Clinic
Yale Medicine
Diabetes Self Management
Pip Diabetes Care
ADCES
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