Hayfever and Diabetes

For some of us, spring means itchy eyes, sore ears, blocked noses, postnasal drip, or sneezes.

Since the Covid pandemic began, people with regular hayfever have been dealing with an extra layer of concern: Is what I’m feeling right now hayfever, or could it be more?

For many people who have both diabetes and hayfever, there have always been additional things to think about.

BLOOD SUGAR CHALLENGES

The symptoms of seasonal allergies can disrupt sleep – compounding the disrupted sleep those with diabetes often also deal with. Tiredness can make it harder to manage blood sugar levels, and it becomes a vicious cycle.

At the same time, over-the-counter hayfever medications often provide relief but may impact blood sugar levels in connection with other side-effects.

Decongestants

Some allergy medications containing decongestants can raise blood sugar, blood pressure, and heart rate.

If you have diabetes, chat to your pharmacist or health care provider before taking either nasal or oral decongestants. They’ll be able to advise on which medications could be right for you.

Antihistamines

These can make you drowsy, and long periods of drowsiness

are known to sometimes be associated with blood sugar highs and lows, as you’re less likely to be monitoring your blood sugar.

If you’re finding this is an issue with anti-histamines, consider switching to a non-drowsy product.

Corticosteroids

Steroids are known to sometimes raise blood sugar levels, so if you have diabetes and are taking corticosteroids for allergies, it’s good to be aware of this. If you have concerns, talk to your healthcare provider.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

It’s always good to talk your healthcare provider with any medication concerns and also to check with them before starting a new medication.

But medication isn’t the only way to treat hayfever. There are other things you can do to reduce your exposure to seasonal allergens:

• Keep an eye on pollen levels in the air through the Metservice weather report page for your town or city.

• Exercise indoors during your peak allergy periods.

• Keep windows closed when allergens are in the air. Of course, this is sometimes tricky at the moment when good ventilation is an important part of reducing Covid spread. Air purifiers are a solution for homes, schools, offices, and other venues but are not currently affordable for everyone.

• If you need to be outside during peak allergy season, wear a mask. This is where Covid precautions also help fight hayfever!

• Wear wraparound sunglasses outdoors to keep pollen out of your eyes.

• If you can, have a shower and change clothes after being outside in hayfever season to get rid of pollen that’s settled on you.

• This is not an option for everyone – but you may want to consider drying clothes and sheets in the dryer rather than on the line when pollen counts are high.

• Note that smoking or being around secondhand smoke can make hayfever symptoms worse.

MORE INFORMATION

For more about hayfever, see www.healthnavigator.org.nz/ health-a-z/h/hay-fever.

For more about hayfever and diabetes, see https://bit.ly/3aOf2az.