How Illness Affects Blood Sugar: Nausea and Fever
7
min read
Apr 16, 2025
Illness can cause blood sugar levels to fluctuate, leading to symptoms like nausea and vomiting, especially in people with diabetes. Managing hydration, blood sugar levels, and medications is essential to prevent complications and ensure a quicker recovery.
Understanding the Impact of Sickness for Diabetics and Non-Diabetics
When you're sick, whether it’s from a common cold, the flu, or something more serious, your body’s ability to manage blood sugar can become disrupted. Illness can cause both non-diabetics and people with diabetes to experience unusual fluctuations in blood sugar levels, often leading to symptoms like nausea, vomiting, or feeling generally unwell. In this article, we’ll discuss how illness affects blood sugar, how it can lead to nausea and vomiting, and provide helpful tips for managing these issues, particularly for those with diabetes.
Understanding the Link Between Sickness and Blood Sugar
Blood sugar (also called glucose) is the main source of energy for our bodies. It comes from the food we eat, and our bodies regulate it with the help of insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas. For people without diabetes, the body naturally maintains blood sugar levels within a certain range. However, in individuals with diabetes, this regulation is impaired, often leading to either high or low blood sugar levels. When you're sick, your body’s stress response kicks in. Your immune system releases stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline to help fight off infections. While this is important for your body’s healing process, these stress hormones can also cause your liver to release more glucose into the bloodstream, potentially raising your blood sugar levels. This effect can be seen in both people with and without diabetes, though it is particularly concerning for those with diabetes.
Can High Blood Sugar Cause Nausea?
Yes, high blood sugar can cause nausea. When your blood sugar levels are too high, your body may become dehydrated, which can lead to nausea, vomiting, or even dizziness. It may also lead to a buildup of acids known as ketones in your blood. This is more common in individuals with diabetes, particularly if insulin is not properly managed. Elevated levels of ketones can cause nausea, vomiting, and a general feeling of being unwell. For individuals with diabetes, this is often a signal that their blood sugar is not in control and that they may need medical intervention. For those with diabetes, this could be a sign that your blood sugar is dangerously high, a condition known as hyperglycemia. If blood sugar levels rise too quickly or remain elevated for a prolonged period, the body struggles to process the excess sugar. The kidneys work overtime to filter out the sugar, leading to frequent urination, which can result in dehydration. As your body becomes more dehydrated, it can cause feelings of nausea, and in some cases, vomiting.
How Illness Can Affect Blood Sugar in Diabetics
For people with diabetes, being sick can complicate blood sugar management. When you're sick, your body's ability to regulate blood sugar is often impaired, leading to more frequent occurrences of high blood sugar levels and nausea. The stress hormones released during illness, like cortisol, can cause your body to produce more glucose, which makes it harder to manage blood sugar levels. In addition to elevated blood sugar, some illnesses may make it difficult to eat or drink, leading to low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) in other situations. Managing diabetes during illness requires extra care and attention, as fluctuations in blood sugar can lead to severe complications.
Diabetes and Vomiting
Can high blood sugar make you nauseous? If you are diabetic and vomiting, it can be a sign of serious complications. Diabetes vomiting and diarrhea are often linked to both high blood sugar and dehydration. Vomiting can also prevent you from taking necessary medications like insulin, further complicating blood sugar control. People with diabetes may also experience a dangerous condition known as diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), which occurs when high blood sugar levels cause the body to break down fat for energy, producing ketones that can make you sick. Diabetes and puking can be serious, so if vomiting occurs, especially if you are unable to manage your blood sugar levels, seek medical attention immediately.
Can High Blood Sugar Make You Nauseous After Eating?
If you have diabetes, feeling sick after eating sugar can be a sign of poorly controlled blood sugar. After eating a large amount of sugar or carbohydrates, blood sugar levels can spike, leading to symptoms like nausea, dizziness, and fatigue. This is particularly true for individuals with type 1 or type 2 diabetes who may not have enough insulin to manage the surge in blood sugar.
Even in non-diabetics, eating too much sugar can sometimes cause a temporary feeling of nausea, as the body works to regulate blood sugar levels after a sugar surge.
What to Do When a Diabetic is Vomiting
If a diabetic person is vomiting, it’s essential to act quickly to prevent further complications. Vomiting can make it difficult to maintain proper blood sugar levels, so here are some steps to follow:
Check Blood Sugar: First, check the blood sugar level. If it is high (above 250 mg/dL), it could indicate a potential case of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), which requires immediate medical attention.
Hydration is Key: Vomiting can lead to dehydration, which can worsen high blood sugar symptoms. Drink plenty of water, or consider drinking an electrolyte solution to replace lost fluids and prevent further dehydration.
Monitor Insulin: If blood sugar is high and you are unable to eat or drink normally, insulin may be needed to bring the levels back down. Always follow the instructions provided by your healthcare provider.
Seek Medical Help: If vomiting persists or blood sugar levels remain elevated, seek medical help immediately. This can be a sign of a more serious issue, such as diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA).
How Does Illness Raise Blood Sugar?
It’s important to understand does being sick raise blood sugar? Yes, in many cases, illness can lead to elevated blood sugar levels, especially if the illness causes stress or affects your appetite. When you’re sick, your body releases stress hormones to help fight the infection. These hormones can increase glucose production in the liver, raising blood sugar levels. Certain illnesses, like the flu or colds, may also cause dehydration, which can worsen the symptoms of high blood sugar, such as nausea and vomiting. High sugar vomiting and diabetes symptoms nausea are both commonly reported by diabetics when they experience illness-related blood sugar swings.
If you have diabetes, it’s particularly important to monitor your blood sugar levels regularly when you’re sick, as illness-related stress can lead to both high and low blood sugar. Keeping your blood sugar in check can help you avoid the serious complications associated with extreme blood sugar levels.
Diabetes and Fever: The Relationship
Another concern for people with diabetes during illness is diabetes-related fever. When you're sick, your body often develops a fever as part of its natural immune response. In individuals with diabetes, a fever can further complicate blood sugar regulation. Fever can lead to dehydration, and when paired with high blood sugar, it can create a dangerous cycle that is difficult to manage. If you have diabetes and develop a fever, it's important to stay hydrated and monitor your blood sugar levels closely. Fever can also signal an infection, which could further increase stress hormones and blood sugar levels. If you suspect you may be fighting an infection, seek medical attention immediately.
How to Manage Elevated Blood Sugar When Sick
For diabetics, elevated blood sugar when sick requires extra attention. Here are some tips for managing blood sugar during illness:
Stay Hydrated: Drink plenty of water or an electrolyte solution. Dehydration can cause blood sugar to rise, and staying hydrated helps prevent this.
Monitor Blood Sugar: Check your blood sugar more frequently than usual when you’re sick, as stress hormones can cause your blood sugar to rise.
Take Your Medications: Continue taking your prescribed medications or insulin as directed. If you’re unable to eat or drink normally, consult your healthcare provider for advice on adjusting your medication.
Eat Small, Balanced Meals: If you’re able to eat, focus on small, balanced meals with a combination of carbohydrates, protein, and healthy fats to keep your blood sugar stable.
Understanding How Illness Affects Blood Sugar
Whether you have diabetes or not, illness can significantly affect blood sugar levels, leading to symptoms like nausea, vomiting, and dehydration. For diabetics, it’s especially important to stay on top of your blood sugar management during illness to avoid complications like diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and to ensure that your body has the fuel it needs to fight off the infection.
If you are feeling nauseous, vomiting, or experiencing other unusual symptoms like high blood sugar during illness, it’s crucial to act quickly and monitor your health. By staying hydrated, checking your blood sugar regularly, and seeking medical advice when necessary, you can manage the effects of illness on your blood sugar and ensure a quicker recovery. Remember, always consult with your healthcare provider for personalized advice, especially if you're experiencing complications like vomiting or high blood sugar that is difficult to control. Your health is the priority, and with the right approach, you can successfully manage the impact of illness on your blood sugar.
