For people with diabetes, a cold is like a “time bomb.” A single misstep can throw otherwise stable blood sugar into chaos. A seemingly ordinary cold or fever can disrupt blood sugar control in diabetic patients, even triggering severe complications such as diabetic hyperosmolar coma and ketoacidosis, posing a significant threat to health. Why does a cold cause blood sugar to spiral out of control?
When viruses associated with the cold invade the body, the immune system immediately switches to “defense mode,” putting the body under stress. At this time, the secretion of stress hormones such as glucocorticoids increases, leading to elevated blood sugar.
Specifically, the physical stress response caused by a cold promotes the release of blood sugar-raising hormones, which raises glucose levels. Meanwhile, some diabetic patients may crave sweets to relieve