Whether at home, work, or travel, there are appropriate steps you can take to manage your diabetes. Here are a few diabetes care responses for specific situations.
Diabetes care during illness
Cold and flu can cause blood glucose levels to rise, so it is especially important to include planning for the duration of your illness in your diabetes care. During your illness, you should follow these recommendations:
- Check your blood glucose every 4 hours (contact your doctor if it continues to rise), and your doctor may ask you to increase your insulin dosage.
- Drink plenty of water.
- Test for ketones in your urine if your blood glucose is higher than 240 mg/dL (or as directed by your doctor).
- Contact your doctor if ketones detected in urine are elevated to mild to moderate levels, or if urine ketone levels remain elevated for more than 12 hours.
- Take your temperature regularly.
- Take your temperature regularly.
- Do not stop using insulin even if you cannot eat solid foods. People with type 2 diabetes who take oral medications may need to stop taking them during illness. See your doctor often to find out what is best for your condition.
- Contact your doctor if your blood sugar is consistently above 180 mg/dL or below 70 mg/dL and you have symptoms such as abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhea, or a fever for more than a day.
Diabetes care during travel
For people with diabetes, it is important to make plans before traveling. Not only does traveling change a patient’s meal structure and activity level, but jet lag can also affect your blood glucose levels and insulin requirements if you are traveling abroad. There are some tricks you can learn before you travel to help you prepare extra supplies and prescription medications ahead of time to make your trip easier.
Holiday eating for people with diabetes
Holiday eating can be a challenge for most people with chronic diseases. If you have diabetes, plan and prioritize your favorite foods so you don’t feel too reactive. Learn some simple ways to help you safely control your holiday diet to keep your blood sugar levels normal and enjoy the food and parties.