Having diabetes doesn’t make your child more likely to get colds and other illnesses. But being ill can affect their diabetes control
Children seem to pick up more than their fair share of colds and illnesses – not least because they are often around other kids who have bugs or the latest virus. When your child is ill, their blood glucose levels may rise or drop.
A high temperature tends to cause blood glucose levels to rise, whereas illnesses such as diarrhoea and vomiting tend to make them drop. Children tend to become acutely unwell quicker than adults, so don’t delay getting help, advice or reassurance, as illness is a common reason for developing diabetic ketoacidosis.
If you can’t get advice from your paediatric diabetes team and you are worried, take your child to your local A&E department.