Managing Diabetes

Even "normal" illnesses like colds and flu can cause special problems when you have diabetes. If you can't eat, or are vomiting, it may be hard to keep blood sugar up.

In this section

• Diabetes Treatments
• Alternative Treatment
• Diabetes Supplements
• Diabetes Remedies
• Diabetes Exercise
• Diabetes & Herbal Remedies
• Diabetes & Chromium
• Diabetes and Fitness
• Making Diabetes Less Painful
• Diabetes and Hypoglycaemia
• Diabetes and Hyperglycaemia

Some illnesses interfere with the way insulin works. You may need insulin shots as well as your regular pills.

Get an action plan from your diabetes team that tells you exactly what to do when you get sick. For example, you should know:

• Whether you will need insulin (or extra insulin);
• When to call the doctor;
• What soft food and drink you should have on hand in case you can't eat normally;
• What extra medicine you may need (for example, to settle your stomach).

Some General Rules

• Call the doctor if your blood sugar is over 240.
• Drink plenty of fluids.
• Drink at least one 8-ounce cup of water every hour (people with diabetes can get sick if they are dehydrated).
• If you can't eat, drink juice or regular (not diet) soda to keep your blood sugar up.
• If you can't keep anything down, suck on ice chips, then sip clear soda, such as regular ginger ale.
• Keep taking your medicine.
• Have someone look in on you or call you every few hours.