It is important to remember that illness may cause blood glucose levels to rise.
Tip
Monitoring your blood glucose more often when you are sick can prevent problems. It is a good idea to teach someone else to do the test just in case you need help when you are sick.
What can you do when you are ill
Always take your insulin or oral diabetes medicine. Do not stop taking diabetes medicine without advice from your doctor, nurse or diabetes educator.
For people with type 1 diabetes, test urine for ketones if blood glucose is more than 250. If ketones are present, test blood glucose and urine ketones every 3 to 4 hours.
If your blood glucose is more than 200, drink at least one-half to 1 cup of sugar-free liquid every hour. Examples of sugar-free liquids:
water
diet
unsweetened tea
broth and soup
If your blood glucose is less than 200, some of your liquids should contain carbohydrate. Examples of liquids that contain carbohydrate:
regular pop
regular gelatin
juices
GatoradeŽ
When you do feel like eating again, the extra liquids should be sugar-free. Start with carbohydrate containing foods that are easy to tolerate every few hours such as
1/2 cup cooked cereal
6 saltine crackers
3 graham crackers
1/2 cup custard, yogurt, sherbet or pudding.
Test your blood glucose every 4 hours during the day and at least once during the night.
Keep a record of the times and numbers of your blood glucose and urine ketones.
Have someone at home with you or notify someone that you are sick so he or she will check on you.
When to call your doctor
Your blood glucose is more than 250 for two tests in a row and urine ketones are positive for two to three consecutive checks.
Your blood glucose is consistently very high (more than 300) even though there are no urine ketones present.
You have questions about how much insulin or oral diabetes medicine to take.
You are unable to eat or drink because of nausea and/or vomiting.
You have been vomiting more than 6 hours or have had more than five episodes of diarrhea in one day.
You have a temperature over 101 degrees Fahrenheit or a high temperature that lasts longer than 48 hours.
Be proactive at your next doctor visit
It's important to make the most of every doctor visit. Here are conversation pointers for your next medical appointment.
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