The holidays are a great time to get together with friends and family, new and old. It also tends to be a time of increased busyness, change of routine and cooler weather – this can sometimes result in you not being at your best health. Here are some tips to prevent getting sick, or if you are sick, to help with recovery.
An Ounce of Prevention…
There’s a saying, “An ounce of prevention, is worth a pound of cure!” To avoid getting a cold or flu this season, keep these tips in mind:
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Get your flu shot. It takes 2 weeks to reach full effectiveness, so the sooner you get your shot, the sooner you are protected!
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Wash your hands frequently to keep germ transfer to a minimum.
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Get enough sleep in order to help your immune system function at its best.
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Drink enough water to make up for the drier air and the extra running around you may be doing.
What to do, when you’ve got the flu (or cold)…
Despite our best efforts, we all sometimes get sick. If you have diabetes, please keep the following in mind:
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Ask your pharmacist about over-the-counter medication for your cold or flu symptoms. They can recommend sugar-free options and check to make sure a product doesn’t interact with your other medications or aggravate any medical conditions.
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If you are at risk of dehydration, are vomiting or have diarrhea, know when to stop certain medications. Your pharmacist or Diabetes Educator can let you know which medications to stop and when to start back on them.
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Diabetes Canada also has a helpful handout, Stay Safe When You Have Diabetes and Are Sick or at Risk of Dehydration.