How to Plan for Sick Days If You Are Diabetic

When my diabetes educator asked me if I had a plan for sick days, I had no idea what she meant. Why would I plan to be sick? Then she explained to me some things diabetics need to know about being sick and I knew I needed to get things together. Here are some tips to help diabetics get ready for those days when they are feeling under the weather.

Never stop taking diabetes pills or insulin without discussing it with your health care provider. As always, be sure to drink plenty of water. Diabetes and the medications for it can cause dehydration on their own, so when you are sick you need to take special care to get enough fluids. Check your blood sugar levels at least every four hours. During this stressful time you need to be sure and keep a very close watch on your glucose levels.

Be sure to know what to look for and when it is time to call your doctor. If you have two blood sugar readings in a row that are over 300, if you lose more than 5 pounds, if you have vomiting or diarrhea for more than 6 hours and can't keep solid foods or liquids down, or if you are dizzy or confused or in pain call your doctor immediately. Be sure that your family knows what to look for as well. If you are confused because of unstable blood sugar levels, you may not be able to call the doctor yourself.

When you call your doctor, you should have the information ready that they will need to help you. Let them know the times and levels of blood glucose readings. Amount and time of food and fluid intake are also important information. They need to know if you have been able to consume and keep down your medications. And, they will need to know if you are having any symptoms of extreme blood glucose levels.

Medicines are like other consumables. They have the main ingredients and inactive ingredients. Cough medicines can have a lot of sugar. Diabetics don't need extra sugar whether they are sick or not. You need to look for cough medicines and cough drops that are sugar-free.

You also need to try and eat regular meals. If you are having trouble keeping food down try eating ½ a cup of broth or bouillon, 4 to 6 crackers, ½ a cup of regular gelatin, or ½ a cup of fruit juice. These things have nutrients your body needs and will keep your blood glucose levels from dropping too low. Bland, non-greasy foods are your best bet to keep your stomach happy.

Having diabetes means changing many long held habits. Planning for sick days is just one of the things that has to change. But, with practice, this can all become second hand. And, it will help the diabetic live a longer, healthier life.