Sick Day Guidelines (for diabetics)!!!
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Sick Day Guidelines (for diabetics)!!!
| Sat, 01-24-2004 - 7:16am |
Since so many are not feeling well and it is that time of year..... here is a list of and a link to the Joslin 'sick day guidelines'. http://www.joslin.harvard.edu/education/library/glucose_on_sickday.shtml
Sick Day Guidelines
- Take your diabetes medication. Always take your usual diabetes medication, unless your health care provider instructs you differently. Even if you cannot eat your usual meals, you need to take your medication. In some cases, additional medication is required. Check with your health care provider or diabetes educator.
- Check blood sugar and ketones.
- Check your blood sugar every 3 to 4 hours all day and all night. Have someone do it for you if you are too sick to do it yourself.
- Check for ketones if your plasma blood sugar is 250 or higher, unless otherwise instructed by your healthcare team.
- Write the results of your blood sugar and ketone checks down and have them ready if you need to call your health care provider.
- Check your blood sugar every 3 to 4 hours all day and all night. Have someone do it for you if you are too sick to do it yourself.
- Drink plenty of fluids — about 6 to 8 ounces every hour you are awake.
- If you are able to eat your meals, drink fluids that are sugar-free and caffeine free, such as: water, decaffeinated tea, broth, diet ginger ale.
- If you are unable to eat, alternate sugar-free fluids one hour with fluids containing sugar the next hour. Examples of fluids containing sugar include: 7-Up or Sprite (6 ounces), Apple Juice (4 ounces), Gatorade (4 ounces), regular gelatin (1/2 cup). Liquids with salt in them, such as bouillon or clear soup, are also important to include.
- If you are able to eat your meals, drink fluids that are sugar-free and caffeine free, such as: water, decaffeinated tea, broth, diet ginger ale.
- Rest. Stay warm. Ask someone to help take care of you.
- Call your health care provider for any of the following reasons:
- Vomiting or diarrhea.
- Blood sugar values that remain above 250 for at least two blood sugar checks or do not decrease with extra insulin. Do this whether you have ketones or not.
- If you have moderate or large ketones.
- If you have questions or concerns.
- Vomiting or diarrhea.
And here is a link to to what cl-maryfrances has to sayabout sick day rules in another post.... http://messageboards.ivillage.com/n/mb/message.asp?webtag=iv-bhgendiabete&msg=2730.4
Sick Day Rules:
Type 1 Diabetes:
Never stop taking insulin. Take usual dose of insulin unless instructed by your physician to do otherwise. Check blood sugar at least four times per day. In type 1 diabetes test for urine ketones when the blood sugar is above 250. Notify your doctor if ketones are more than a trace. Eat a normal food pattern if possible. If not, it may be necessary to eat soft foods or drink liquids with sugar in them to avoid hypoglycemia. Notify your physician if your blood sugar is 300 or above. 400 or above seek immediate medical care. Report nausea, diarrhea or vomiting to your doctor. Also report any symptoms of Diabetic Keto Acidosis(DKA): abdominal pain, fruity breath or shortness of breath. Report to your physician if you are not able to retain fluids for 3-4 hours.
Type 2 Diabetes
Test your blood sugar at least four times per day. Drink extra fluids to make sure that you don't become dehydrated. Suggestions are: diet soft drinks, diet ice tea, decafeinated tea, water and broth. Take all your diabetic medications. If youa re sick and your appetite is less than normal, eat small meals every few hours and drink extra fluids. If your blood sugar is 250 or above drink sugar free beverages, if it is under 150 drink beverages which contain sugar. Notify your doctor is your blood sugar is 300 or above. Seek immediate medical if your blood sugar is 400 or above.
Signs of dehydration: If you become sick and aren't able to eat or drink you can become dehydrated. You must be taken to the hospital if you become confused, sleepy or cannot be awakened.
This is to help you right now. For the future: you need to aks your physician specifically how s/he wants you to treat your illnesses. Some physicians might want you to contact them sooner or might want you to seek immediate care sooner. These are only general rules that I have given you and they are not a subsitute for rules that your physician will give you.
There also was a very good article on this issue in this month's issue of Diabetes Self-Management.
cl-maryfrances40
(I have not compared the two.... But Mary Frances does have hers divided into type 1 and type 2.)
Edited 1/24/2004 8:40:54 PM ET by coldfingers


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I had to look through over 2 years of messages to find this important message. Took me an hour of looking since the search couldn't find it!! I knew it was here somewhere. I just re-read the portion that Cheryl posted that I wrote. Oh do I wish I could type and spell!! I think this was done before we had spell check available!!
(since my original post is soooo old it won't come up, you will have to go back to it...
Community leader since 1998
I am so glad you bumped this message; it is such an important one.
2sweet02
Thanks for the suggestion. I don't know how to do it! There are several messages that I really don't want to lose.
What board are you a CL for?
Have a great weekend.
Community leader since 1998
Mary Frances to flag a post go to the bottom of that posts page.
I hope you don't mind, I kept on my hat.
Community leader since 1998
I told my siggy maker that I like roses (especially red ones) and I can find a four leaf clover just by looking down at a patch of clover.
2sweet02
Community leader since 1998
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