When you are sick, your blood
glucose levels may be higher than normal and hyperglycemia
may occur if your blood glucose level is above 13.3mmol/L
(240mg/dL). Over-the-counter and prescription medications can also
increase your blood glucose level.
What
to do...
- Take your diabetes medication
at your usual times
- Monitor your blood glucose
level more frequently and aim for a level between 4-8mmol/L
(72-144mg/dL)
- Monitor your ketones
every 2-4 hours or when your blood glucose level is 16.7mmol/L
(300mg/dL) or greater
- Eat 10-15 grams of carbohydrate
every 1 to 2 hours
- Drink lots of water, clear
soup, broth, or tea
- Don't eat if your blood
glucose is greater than 10mmol/L
(180mg/dL); test again in one hour
- Call your doctor if you:
- vomit more than once
in 4 hours
- are unable to eat or
drink anything for 4 hours
- are sick for more than
24 hours
- have questions or concerns
- your ketones are above
1.5 mmol/L
What
to eat...
Eat ONE of the following, every
1 to 2 hours...
- Half a regular serving of
rolled oats or oatmeal
- 1/3 cup apple juice
- 1/2 cup orange juice
- 1/4 cup grape juice
- 1/2 popsicle
- 1/4 regular jello
- 1/4 cup sherbet
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/2 cup plain yogurt
- 1 slice dry toast
- 1/2 English muffin of bagel
- 1 slice dry toast
- 1 cup canned tomatoe soup
- 3 stoned wheat thins
- 4 slices Melba toast
- 6 soda crackers
- 3 Arrowroot biscuits
- 3 Graham crackers
- 4 social tea cookies
- 2 digestive cookies
- 2 oatmeal cookies
- 7 Ritz crackers
- 3 cups plain popcorn
Which
medications...
The following are general guidelines.
Talk to your doctor, healthcare professional, or pharmacist about
which specific over-the-counter medication they recommend for your
condition.
- Allergies & runny
nose: use antihistamines
- Constipation: use
a high-fiber laxative; for example, psyllium-based such as suger-free
Metamucil
- Cough: use suger-free
products; dry hacking, use dextromethorphan; wet cough, use an
expectorant
- Cuts & scrapes:
clean with mild soap and water; use Polysporin or Ozonol antibiotic
ointments
- Diarrhea: use Imodium
capsules; if blood or fever present or it lasts more than 2 days,
contact doctor
- Foot problems: see
your MD or a podiatrist (never cut them off yourself or use medicated
wart, corn, or callous pads)
- Headache & fever:
use small amounts of ASA , Acetaminophen, or Ibuprofen
- Heartburn & indigestion:
use suger-free antacids or low-dose forms of Tagamet, Zantec,
or Axid
- Nausea & vomiting:
for mild cases, use Gravol or Traveltabs (dimenhydrinate); otherwise
contact doctor
- Prevention: consider
taking the Pneumococcus vaccine and a yearly Flu shot
- Skin problems: always
use an SPF15 sun screen and an urea-based moisturizer for dry
skin
- Sore throat: suck
an ice cube or gargle with salt water; if still sore after 3 days,
contact doctor
- Stuffiness: avoid
decongestants, use Vicks Vaporub or Dristan or Otravin nasal sprays
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