My Diabetes Information Blogs
Diabetes and Sick Days
04/16/07
Living Well, Disease Basics, General
When most people are sick, they can take the day off from just about all of their responsibilities. However, if you live with diabetes, you cannot take a day off from medications and managing blood glucose. If you neglect diabetes, it could seriously compromise your health in a matter of hours.
If you are new to life with diabetes, you should discuss sick days with your doctor. On your first sick day, it would be wise to call your doctor early on for coaching. They will help you know what kinds of foods to eat, liquids to drink, how to interpret blood glucose reading, and whether to administer extra insulin injections.
A few good resources that can help you address the challenge of being sick are:
- Diabetes management: Creating your sick-day plan from MayoClinic.com
- Surviving Sick Days from the American Diabetes Association
- Answers to Questions about Sick Days from BD Diabetes
- Vomit more than once, and cannot keep liquids, food or medications down.
- Your blood glucose rises above 300 mg/dl.
- Your blood glucose falls below 60 mg/dl.
- You notice that you are having trouble breathing, thinking clearly or staying alert.
- You notice that you are getting dehydrated.
- Have a fever higher than 100 degrees.
- Your ketone test finds you have moderate to large amounts of ketones in your urine. You should also familiarize yourself with symptoms of ketoacidosis like:
- Frequent urination or frequent thirst for a day or more
- Fatigue
- Nausea and vomiting
- Muscular stiffness or aching
- Mental stupor that may progress to coma
- Rapid breathing
- Breath that smells fruity
- Chest pain, rapid heart rate and/or rapid shallow breathing
- Trouble staying alert