Glucose Control: Benefits |
Dangers |
Testing |
Diet |
Exercise |
 Special Times |
Tips
Sickness
If you have diabetes, you need to
take good care of yourself when you have a cold, flu, infection or other illness.
Being sick can raise your blood sugar. Here are some guidelines for taking care of
yourself:
- Tell your doctor you are sick.
- Test your blood sugar up to every hour upon your doctor's advice. Write down
the results of the test. You can use lifeclinic.com to track your
glucose levels.
- If your blood sugar is 240 mg/dL or higher, test your urine for ketones. It's
easy to test for ketones. Buy urine ketone strips at the drug store. Urinate on the
pad part of the strip. Compare the color that the strip becomes to the color example
on the package. If the pad turns a purple color, call your health care provider right
away.
- Weigh yourself every day. Losing weight without trying is a sign of high blood
sugar.
- Check your temperature in the morning and evening. A fever may be a sign of
infection.
- Keep taking your diabetes medication. Even if you can't keep food down, you
still need your medication.
- Drink plenty of fluids if your blood sugar is too high. Try to drink at least
1/2 cup to 3/4 cup every half-hour to hour, even if you have to do this in small
sips. These liquids should not have calories. Water is best.
- Try eating crackers, jello, popsicles or soup.
- Drink clear liquids such as ginger ale if you can't eat at all. You can eat
or drink something with sugar in it if you have trouble keeping food down.
Call the doctor immediately
If your blood sugar is lower than
60 mg/dL or stays over 300 mg/dL, call your doctor right away. Also call if:
- You feel too sick to eat normally and for more than six hours can't keep food
or liquids down.
- You find ketones in your urine.
- Your temperature is more than 101 F.
- You can't keep fluid down.
- You feel sleepier than usual.
- You have trouble breathing.
- You can't think clearly.
- You throw up more than once.
- You have diarrhea.
- You have an infection
If you have to go to a hospital
or to an emergency room, be sure to tell the doctors, nurses and the admitting clerk
that you have diabetes. They should call your doctor.
The Flu
The flu isn't just
a bad cold. It's a serious illness that can lead to pneumonia and even death. The flu
spreads when influenza viruses pass from one person to the nose or throat of others.
Symptoms include high fever, chills, body aches, sore throat, runny nose, dry cough and
headache.
The flu is a special threat to people
with diabetes. If you have diabetes you may get very sick and even have to go to the
hospital. It's very important for you to get a flu shot every year. Everyone with any
type of diabetes--even pregnant women--should get an annual flu shot. The best time to
get one is between October and mid-November, before the flu season begins.
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