Cold sore virus may raise risk of type 2 diabetes

It’s the time of year when people start getting more cold sores — also called fever blisters, which are different from canker sores, a condition people sometimes associate them with. Cold sores are caused by the herpes simplex virus, and they’re contagious. Cold sores are common. But though you can’t cure or prevent cold sores, you can take steps to reduce their frequency and to limit the duration of an occurrence.

Certain strains of the herpes virus cause cold sores. Herpes simplex virus type 1 usually causes cold sores. Herpes simplex virus type 2 is usually responsible for genital herpes. However, either type of the virus can cause sores in the facial area or on the genitals. You get cold sores from another person who has an active lesion. Shared eating utensils, razors and towels may spread this infection.

Once you’ve had an episode of cold sores, the virus lies dormant in the nerve cells in your skin and may emerge again as an active infection on or near the original site. You may experience an itch or heightened sensitivity at the site preceding each attack. Fever, menstruation, stress and exposure to the sun may trigger a recurrence.

In 2004, Dr. Yuejin Yang and colleagues from Union Medical College tested 206 subjects with type 2 diabetes for the herpes virus infection, along with a control group of 1,360 without diabetes. He found that the presence of cold sores raised the risk of type 2 diabetes by 50 percent. This association between herpes infection and type 2 diabetes further supports the idea that inflammation and virus infection increase the risk of type 2 diabetes, Dr. Yang points out.

You can take steps to guard against cold sores, to prevent spreading them to other parts of your body or to avoid passing them along to another person!

• Avoid kissing and skin contact with people while blisters are present. The virus can spread as long as there are moist secretions from your blisters.

• Avoid sharing items. Utensils, towels and other items can spread the virus when blisters are present.

• Keep your hands clean. Wash your hands carefully before touching another person when you have a cold sore.

• Be careful about touching other parts of your body. Your eyes and genital area may be particularly susceptible to spread of the virus.

• Avoid triggers. Situations that can trigger cold sores include too much exposure to the sun.

• Use a sunblock. Apply a sunblock to your lips and face before prolonged exposure to the sun — during both the winter and the summer — to help prevent cold sores.

Please remember to always check with your physician before incorporating any changes in your lifestyle. E-mail me with your ideas on this and other aspects of healthy living at: [email protected].