When you're sick with a stomach bug or flu, it's hard to keep a good schedule for eating and taking medications, especially when you can't keep anything down. What's the best way to handle a sick day?
- Check your blood sugar every 4-6 hours
- Test for ketones also and keep track of results of both blood glucose levels and presence of ketones
- Take your insulin or oral glycemic meds as scheduled unless your blood sugar is much lower than usual
- Try to eat small amounts of food every 3 to 4 hours to keep your blood glucose levels as normal as possible
- Drink plenty of fluids
- If you can't hold anything down, or are sick for more than 24 hours, call your healthcare provider or go to the emergency room.
Things to call your doctor about:
- Illness that lasts longer than 1 or 2 days
- Fever
- Severe nausea, vomiting and/or diarrhea
- Abdominal pain
- Rapid or labored breathing
- Excessive urination or thirst
- Dehydration
- Presence of ketones
- Worsening symptoms
If it's after hours or late at night and your doctor is not available, take a trip to the emergency room.
It's also a good idea to keep handy an updated list of all medications you take and a schedule of when you take them. This way healthcare providers can tell your medication history at a glance. Include both diabetes medications and any others, including over-the-counter drugs and vitamins.
