Type 2 Diabetes – Sick Day Advice ! What? I Can’t Look After Myself ?
Diabetes often means that you have to take extra precautions when you come down with an illness. The symptoms of a cold or the flu can affect your blood glucose levels. Vomiting and nausea can lead to dehydration issues. Infections also trigger increased levels of blood sugar. It is extremely important to take steps to monitor and manage your diabetes when faced with a common illness. It will keep the complications at bay.
The first step is to check your glucose levels at least every four hours. Do it more frequently if you feel any signs of high or low blood sugar. If you find your blood sugar above 240 mg/dl (13.3 mmol/L), test for ketones in your urine. If you find ketones, get hold of your doctor immediately. These are byproducts caused by your body burning fatty acids rather than glucose. This may mean that your insulin levels are dangerously low due to the illness or an underlying illness or infection. It is a reported fact is important for people to get medical help as soon as possible since it can lead to ketoacidosis in patients with Type II Diabetes and in some cases to a diabetic coma.
Take your temperature regularly as well. This can also reveal if an infection is lying in there. Drink plenty of fluids during the day. If you have nausea, try to keep down water. If you can’t hold down water or food, consult your medical team immediately. You might need to go to the emergency room before severe dehydration hits. If you are taking insulin injections, do not stop them. It is also important to keep your blood glucose readings in check. Drinking something with sugar will help keep your glucose in normal ranges if you cannot keep down solids. Consult with your doctor about any over the counter medications you might take. Some contain high levels of sugar and that is not good for people with type 2 diabetes. There are versions available that are not though.
Call your doctor if you have any nausea or vomiting. Call your doctor if you have a fever higher than 101 degrees Fahrenheit (38.3 degrees Celsius). Call your physician if you cannot keep fluids or solids down. Call your doctor if your glucose goes above 180 mg/dL (10 mmol/L) or falls below 70 mg/dL (3.8 mmol/l). Call your doctor if you develop ketones in your urine. Monitoring your health is very important when you are sick and have type 2 diabetes as well.