Managing Sick Days and Diabetes
Even a minor Illness affects blood sugar. The stress of being ill causes blood glucose
levels to rise, especially if you are not eating and exercising as usual. When you are sick, your
body increases its output of some hormones that help fight the illness. Unfortunately, these
hormones also fight insulin action, which makes your blood sugar go up because there is not
enough insulin in your system.
Stress and pain also make blood sugars rise. Whether a person has Type 1 or Type 2
diabetes, following a sick day management plan can help prevent a minor illness from developing
into a major illness.
Here are some sick day management tips that anyone suffering from diabetes should
follow:

Always take your usual insulin or other medication. Do not stop taking insulin or other
medications because you are not eating as much as usual. You may actually need
more insulin during sick days.

Check with your doctor and/or pharmacist before taking any nonprescription
medication. Always check with your doctor or pharmacist. Be aware that these
medications can have an effect on diabetes control. Before using any drugs or
medications, read all labels carefully, check all warnings and cautions, avoid products
containing sugar, and select products with little or no alcohol. Avoid taking large doses
of aspirin because doing so may lower your blood sugar levels too much. Be aware
that oral decongestants raise blood sugar levels. Suspect any word that ends in "ose"
(dextrose, fructose, lactose), sorbitol, monnitol and honey. All are types of sugar and
contain calories.
Here is a list of some medications that might be okay to take:
Couch medicines--Cepacol tables-sugar free, Hytus tables, Robitussin-sugar free,
Tussar, SF, Sorbutuss Sytrup, Toclonol Expectorant, Tolu-sed DM, and Colrex
Expectorant.
Antidiarrheals: Corrrective Mixture, Kaopectate, Lomotil liquid, Parepectolin, Peptobismol.

Check your blood sugar level every two to four hours. If the level is 240 or greater, use
sugar-free fluids, such as water, tea broth and diet soda. If it's below 240 drink regular
fluids such as juice and regular soda.

Check your urine for ketones each time you urinate, especially Type 1. Ketones are
acids that are produced when your body breaks down fat for fuel. You can buy ketone
test strips from most pharmacies without a prescription. If your glucose level is over
150 and you don't have ketones in your urine, follow your doctor's orders. If you do
have ketones in urine, you need extra insulin right away. Symptoms of ketones
include fruity or acetone breath, vomiting, stomach pain and/or rapid breathing.

Drink plenty of fluids. Try to drink or sip fluids with 10 to 15 grams of carbohydrates
every hour. You need at least 1 cup of sugar-free fluid if you have a fever, diarrhea,
are not eating well or have high blood sugar. Some liquids or semi-liquids to try
include diet sodas, low-sodium chicken, beef or vegetable broth.

Get immediate medical attention if you have chest pain, trouble breathing or moderate
amounts of ketones in your urine. Call your doctor if you have been ill for more than
two days and are not feeling any better, or if you have been vomiting or have had
diarrhea for more than six hours.

Call the doctor is your blood sugar level remains above 250 or below 60.

Don't wait until illness strikes before coming up with a sick-day plan. Ask you doctor,
diabetes nurse or certified diabetes educator to help you put a plan together. It could
make a big difference later.