Why do my blood sugars run so high when I have a cold, and how should I handle my medications if I can't eat?

It feels completely backwards, but being sick almost always drives blood sugar up, even if you are barely eating!

When your body is fighting off an infection—whether it's a cold, the flu, or even a localized infection like a UTI—it undergoes physical stress. In response to this stress, your body releases hormones like adrenaline and cortisol to help fight the illness. Unfortunately, these stress hormones cause massive insulin resistance and trigger your liver to release extra glucose for energy.