You may notice your blood glucose is on the rise when youre under the weather.

Heres whats going onand how you’ve got the option to take care of yourself.

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Blood sugar spikes dont just happen after eating a carb-rich meal.

a photo of a woman feeling ill, touching her head and drinking a cup of tea

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There are plenty of other reasons yourblood sugar might be high.

Believe it or not, having a cold or infection might be one of them.

How Does Illness Affect Blood Sugar Levels?

When you get sick, your body triggers a cascade of responses to fight off the infection.

For example, stress hormones like cortisol and epinephrine are released, according to theEndocrine Society.

Without adequate insulin, glucose stays in your bloodstream longer and blood sugar levels rise.

Plus, your lifestyle understandably changes when youre sick.

Breaking down fat for energy produces ketones, which can become dangerous when too many are produced too fast.

Its also important to do what you’ve got the option to to stay healthy during sickness season.

One of the best ways to do that is to get the flu vaccine.