Tips for Illness Days
Your illness days and your moments of emotional stress are the proof, unfortunately, that diabetes doesn't behave every day as it's written in the books.
There are days with surprises which you didn't foresee.
For example, your days of sickness. These days can disrupt your blood glucose control.
Sicknesses such as viral colds or influenza, infections, injuries, fever, vomiting, and diarrhea. They all may increase your need for insulin.
Another example is the moments of emotional stress.
There are many causes of emotional stress.
It can be at work or at home. (There are also special tips for diabetic people at work).
It can be before an important trip or important surgery.
All of these can also affect your blood glucose level.
Learning to manage these days can help you avoid hospitalization and make you feel more comfortable until these days have passed.
During your these days you should try following these rules:
- You should drink every hour and try eating only light foods.
- If you do exercise, skip it for these days. Resting is more important.
- Test your blood sugar 3 or 4 times a day.
- Test your urine for ketones.
- Keep taking your insulin what so ever.
- You should go to your neighborhood clinic or the nearest hospital if you experience the following signs:
- Your blood sugar level is high! (400 and up in 2 sequential tests).
- Your urine tests show vast amount of sugar.
- You feel very sick more than 2 days.
- You have vomiting or diarrhea more than 8 hours.
- You have strong feeling of dizziness or fatigue.
- You have noticed strange infections.
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