Sick Day Guidelines (Diabetes) You know it is important for you to keep your blood glucose (sugar) levels within your target range. However, when you are sick, your blood glucose levels may go up. Being sick may also make it hard to: • stick with your meal plan • exercise • take your medicine as you should Your goal while you are sick is to continue your diabetes management plan as best you can. You want to avoid further problems with your diabetes. On the back is a sick day plan to help you do this.
Call your doctor if you have: • b een sick or had a fever (more than 100.3° F/37.9°C) for a few days and are not getting better • d iarrhea that lasts longer than 6 hours • vomited more than once • m oderate to large ketones in your urine • b lood glucose levels, for 2 tests in a row, higher than 250 mg/dl or less than 70 mg/dl (when testing every 4 hours) • c hest pain, trouble breathing, fruity smelling breath, dry mouth • s ymptoms you can’t explain
Copyright © 2002-2014 Pritchett & Hull Associates, Inc. DO NOT DUPLICATE.
Pritchett & Hull Associates, Inc. Bringing Patients & Health Together ®
Atlanta, GA
800-241-4925
Product # 462
Sick Day Plan (Diabetes) Use this sick day plan to help keep your blood
glucose levels as close to normal as you can. • Rest. • D rink fluids (8 oz every hour) while awake, unless you are told not to. Do not gulp. (Choose caffeine free fluids.) - If your blood glucose is over 240 mg/ dl, drink sugar-free fluids like broth, tea or water. - If your blood glucose is less than 240 mg/dl, drink fluids that have 10 – 15 grams of carbohydrates (carbs) in them. • T ry your best to stick with your normal meal plan. If you can’t, try to
eat 45-50 grams of carbs every 3-4 hours. Here is a short list of foods that have 10-15 grams of carbs in them:
- 6 vanilla wafers - 1⁄2 cup cooked cereal
- 6 saltine crackers - 3 graham crackers
- 1⁄2 cup applesauce
- 1 slice of toast or bread
• If you can’t eat solid food, try drinking fluid or eating food, like: - 1⁄2 cup (caffeine free) - 1 cup Gatorade®
ap pl e
non-diet soda - 1⁄2 cup fruit juice - 1 Popsicle® (regular) - 1⁄2 cup gelatin (regular) - 1 cup chicken noodle soup
• Test your blood glucose every 2-4 hours. • Test for ketones if blood glucose is over 250 mg/dl. • Take your medicine even if you can’t eat. (Ask your doctor or nurse if you need to take less if you are not eating). Pritchett & Hull Associates, Inc. Bringing Patients & Health Together ®
Atlanta, GA
800-241-4925
Copyright © 2002-2014 Pritchett & Hull Associates, Inc. DO NOT DUPLICATE.