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What do you do if you have a sickness bug?

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Feebiecat

Active Member
Messages
43
Hi

My husband is type 1 (only diagnosed in March) and he seems to have a sickness bug and stomach cramps.. He is just doin what anyone would normally do when they have a bug and rest, drink water etc. He is testing regularly so that is ok.

Is there anythin else he should be doing and how long do we leave it before going to docs if it doesn't go soon or can doc even do anything for a bug other than tell you to get on with it?!

Thanks
Feebie x
 
Basically he still needs insulin, even if he isn't eating.
Basal insulin shouldn't be stopped (bit of an assumption here that he is using a basal like levemir/lantus and a rapid with meals)
During times of sickness/infection he may in fact need more insulin.
As with any illness, he needs to keep hydrated.
He should be testing for ketones especially if his levels go above 13. If he hasn't any urine testing strips you can buy them from chemists (though according to report not always in stock)
Ketones can rise though even with lower levels when someone is vomiting so its a good thing to check.
Here is a fairly good summary which has a link to the basic advice given by most hospitals (read first) and the more detailed type of advice offered on the DAFNE course.


http://www.diabetes-support.org.uk/info/?page_id=141

restored important sentence that I must have lost on editing.
 
Hi Feebiecat sorry to hear your husband is unwell. I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in May 2011 aged 55 so big, big shock. No other family members have had either Type 1 or Type 2. I had a stomach bug about 3 weeks ago, first illness I've had since being diagnosed. I did all what your husband is doing, but also because I couldn't eat I found I had to reduce my background insulin by 1 unit for about 4 days as my readings were going low. When I did manage to eat some dry toast etc I found I still needed to inject my usual 1 unit for 10 grams of carb. I did not test for ketones as my readings were not going very high, but I know lots of people are advised to test for ketones whenever you are ill irrespective of readings. Hope he gets better very soon, Carole
 
Thank you...i'll have a look at that liink.

I've just made him check for keytones and there are some but am trying to figure out what the reaading means as i can't find the guide thingy! His reading is about 10 now and he is in between the rose/pinkish square and the browny one..am not sure if am suppose to read it as mmol or mg though!

Am going to try and get some water down him as i know he is dehydrated. He has a dodgy stomach anyway an havin a scan in a couple of weeks so i dunno if summin to do with that or a bug or what?! I'll make n appointment for him to see doc tomorrow just to make sure.

Thanks again for the replies x
 
Well if in case you have a sickness bug there's some treatment ,no food for 24 hrs.lots of fluid.
If possible ask someone to get you some Dioralyte from the chemist.(Re-hydration treatment)
After 24 hrs starvation ,you may eat a piece of dry toast,then light diet and then gradually work your way back to normal food.Read more here for an additional help.
 
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