Type 1 Diabetes: Sick Day Management
The blood sugars usually increase when you are sick. With proper planning, the risks from illnesses are not much greater than for anyone else. Sick days include illnesses like colds and flu. They also include times like dental work and surgery when your body will be under stress and you may not be eating or drinking normally. Talk to your doctor before you get sick and know what he/she wants you to do when sick.
General guidelines for sick day management:
- Drink plenty of fluids. Vomiting, diarrhea and fever cause you to loose fluids and you need to replace them to prevent dehydration.
- Drink small sips of liquid often, rather than a large amount all at once.
- Drink at least 8-12 oz of fluid every hour while awake – some every 15 minutes or so,
- If you are eating your normal carbs, the extra fluids should be sugar-free.
- If you can't eat, take your carbs in liquid form.
- If vomiting, avoid solid foods until vomiting has stopped.
Insulin :
- Do not stop taking your insulin.
- Insulin is needed when you are sick, even if you are not eating. Never skip an insulin dose entirely.
- The insulin dose may need to be adjusted on sick days. If you are unsure of how much insulin to take, call your physician/medical team.
Check your blood sugar and ketones often.
- Your blood sugar levels can become dangerously high very quickly when you are sick.
- Check your blood sugar every 2-4 hours.
- Check for ketones every 4 hours until negative.
- Have liquids, glucose get, and glucagons available to treat low blood sugars.
Call your health care provider if you:
- Vomit or have diarrhea more than 3 times.
- Have blood sugars over 300 for 2 consecutive readings
- Have moderate to large ketones
- Have temperature over 101.5
- Have difficulty breathing
- Are unsure how much insulin to take
When you call your health care provider – they will need certain information:
- Your name and age
- How long you've had diabetes
- Name of diabetes doctor
- Present problem (temperature, number of times you have vomited or had diarrhea)
- Blood sugar and ketone levels for last 24-48 hrs.
- Intake of foods and liquids
- Usual insulin dosage, time and amount of last dosage
Prevention is the best medicine!
Ask you health care provider about an annual flu shot and a shot against pneumococcal disease. These can be serious diseases for people with diabetes. But the shots can help protect you.
