DIABETIC SICK DAYS

Everyone gets colds, viruses, and the flu - including people who have diabetes.

However, for a person with diabetes, the stress of illness, whether due to infection or any other cause, can raise blood sugar and cause diabetes to get out of control.Illness may cause loss of appetite. Flu and other minor illnesses can become major problems if you do not know how to keep your diabetes under control.Your blood glucose often goes up when you are ill or have an infection.This is because your body is under stress, not because you ate too much.Anyone can get dehydrated when he or she has a fever, vomiting, or diarrhea.You are even more likely to get dehydrated if you have diabetes and your blood glucose is high. Over the counter medicines may affect your diabetes.Check with your pharmacist or health care team before taking any medication.

What to do when you are ill:

• If you have difficulty eating, switch to soft or liquid, easy-to-digest foods.Attempt to follow your meal plan as closely as possible.
• If you can't eat at your usual meal and snack times, have 15 g carbohydrate every hour.Some examples of foods with 15 grams carbohydrate:
  • 1/2 cup fruit juice or regular soda
  • 1 small piece fruit
  • 1 small frozen juice bar (3 oz)
  • 1 cup sports drink
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce or ice cream
  • 6 saltines
  • 3 graham crackers
  • 3/4 oz pretzels
  • 1 cup milk or sugar-free yogurt
• Take your usual dose of insulin or diabetes pills, even if you can't eat.
• Check your blood glucose more often (every 1 to 4 hours).
• Drink plenty of fluids (4 to 6 oz every hour for adults and 2 to 4 oz every hour for children.Sip on clear liquids, like apple juice, sports drinks, or regular soda, if you can't keep anything else down.
• Keep your health care provider's number near in case you need it in a hurry.
• Call your health care provider if:
  • you have been ill for 1 or 2 days and are not getting better
  • have had vomiting or diarrhea for more than 8 hours
  • become dehydrated or have trouble thinking or breathing
  • you use insulin and blood glucose is over 240 mg/dl, even after extra insulin
  • you take diabetes pills and blood glucose before meals is above 240 mg/dl
  • blood glucose is less than 60 mg/dl