Diabetes

Treatment and Management:
What to Do When Sick

If you have diabetes and get sick for a reason unrelated to diabetes, be sure to:

• Check your blood glucose more frequently than usual, at least every four hours.
• Keep taking your diabetes medication unless your doctor tells you otherwise.
• Drink fluids.
• Get plenty of rest.
• Check your temperature.
• If you have type 1 diabetes, check your urine for ketones. If the ketone test is positive, call your doctor.

If You Cannot Eat Regular Meals
If you cannot eat regular meals, during waking hours try to drink fluids that contain 15 grams of carbohydrates. Examples are:

• 1/2 cup fruit juice
• 1/4 cup sherbet
• 3/4 cup ginger ale (not diet)
• 1/2 cup regular gelatin, such as Jello® gelatin (not sugar-free)
• 1-1/2 cups chicken noodle soup
• 1/2 cup regular soda (not diet)
• 1-1/2 cups chilled sports beverage, such as Gatorade®

If You Can Eat Regular Meals
If you can eat regular meals, then during waking hours supplement them with 1/2 cup sugar-free fluid every hour. Examples of such fluids are:

• broth or bouillon
• unsweetened tea (you may add artificial sweetener)
• sugar-free soda
• water

When to Call Your Doctor
Call your doctor if:

• vomiting or diarrhea last for more than 6 hours
• fever or nausea last for more than 24 hours
• you feel ill for more than 24 hours
• your blood glucose level is 240 milligrams per deciliter blood (mg/dl) or higher
• you are not sure what to do about your condition

Your doctor may work out a sick-day insulin plan for you. Your dietitian can work out a sick-day meal plan. If blood glucose levels are too high or too low, check with your doctor before making any adjustments in medication dosage.