My daughter has had type�1 diabetes for seven months, and we recently found out that she also has seasonal allergies (itchy eyes, runny nose, and sneezing). Is there an allergy medication that does not contain sugar? Right now, she has been taking Claritin for only two days and her readings are very high (14-19 mmol/L [252- 342 mg/dl] during morning and lunch and her suppertime reading was low (2.7 mmol/L [48.6 mg/dl]) which is out of the ordinary for her. Can you help?

Almost any pill/tablet form of the various antihistamines will not contain significant carbs to worry about. Indeed, even the liquid preparations flavored with syrups, if she requires a teaspoon here or there, will not provide excessive carbs to cause concern. There are sugar-free preparations, but some flavored with sorbitol which is a type of alcohol-sugar that often causes diarrhea. Other liquid preparations may contain alcohol and alcohol which can lower blood glucose. Your pharmacist will be happy to guide you.

If your daughter is having higher glucose readings, it perhaps could be due to other mechanisms and “stress.” [Of course, we use that excuse all the time!] If you find that there is a consistency in higher readings, you might just make a minor adjustment in her usual doses of insulin.

DS