Exercise and healthy eating items with glucose monitor

Sick days with diabetes

If you have diabetes, your blood glucose can rise when you get sick. Here are important tips to follow if you become ill.

TAKE DIABETES MEDICATION

Always take diabetes medication as directed, unless your care team tells you otherwise.

NO COLD / FLU MEDICINE

Do not take cold or flu medicine unless you have checked with your care team. Ask your care team if sugar-free cough drops or syrup are okay to have.

FOLLOW YOUR MEAL PLAN

Do not take cold or flu medicine unless you have checked with your care team. Ask your care team if sugar-free cough drops or syrup are okay to have.

STAY HYDRATED

Drink plenty of water or sugar-free fluids. If you cannot eat, try to alternate drinking sugar-free and sugar-containing liquids every hour.

CHECK YOUR GLUCOSE

Make sure you check your blood glucose as often as your care team has suggested.

ADJUST INSULIN USE

If you take insulin, adjust the amount of insulin you are taking to your sick-day plan. Do not skip taking insulin, even if you cannot eat! If you take pills, continue to take them as usual unless your care team tells you otherwise.

HAVE SOMEONE CHECK IN

Have a family member or friend check in on you several times a day while you are sick. If you are quarantined, remind the person checking on you to stay at least six feet away when possible.

KNOW WHEN TO CALL FOR HELP

Call your healthcare provider if you have stomach pain, diarrhea, or inability to keep down food/liquids for several hours straight. You should also call if your urine ketones are above trace or your blood glucose levels are higher than normal while following your sick day plan.

For more information, go here.
Information courtesy of UMass Memorial Health Care Diabetes Center of Excellence