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Sick Days: Be Prepared!
Written by: Sarah Matunis, R.Ph., Rite Aid Pharmacist and Corporate Clinical Coordinator
While no one plans on getting sick, it important when managing your diabetes to have a sick day plan and a well-stocked sick day kit. It seems that along with the changing seasons, illness blows into our busy lives. The stress of being sick can affect your glucose control and lead to complications. A person with diabetes that has an infection or dehydration is more likely to be hospitalized than a person without diabetes - so, being prepared for sick days plays a significant role in your health.
How do you prepare for sick days and minimize the negative impact on your life?
Talk to your diabetes management team. More frequent monitoring of blood glucose, and urine or blood ketones may be necessary. Medication adjustments may also be needed. A well-stocked sick day kit can ensure you have what you need to alleviate your symptoms and help keep your glucose levels under control.
A Sick Day Plan typically addresses the following:
Medications:
- Review ALL of your medications and discuss the appropriate action for each.
- Include which over-the-counter medicines you will use.
Monitoring:
- Check blood glucose levels frequently - at least every 4-6 hours.
- Check for urine ketones.
- For type 1 diabetes: check every 4 hours when glucose levels are greater than 250mg/dl.
- For type 2 diabetes: check when glucose levels are greater than 300mg/dl.
Food:
- If possible, stick to your normal meal plan. Try to eat your normal number of calories by eating regular (not diet) sick day foods like crackers, toast, soups, gelatin, and applesauce.
- If you can’t stick to your normal meal plan, have a sick day meal plan ready.
- Drink fluids
- If you are able to eat, drink non-caloric fluids e.g. water, diet soda.
- If you can NOT eat, drink calorie containing fluids e.g. regular (non-diet) drinks, juice.
- Set a goal of 50 grams of carbohydrates every 3 to 4 hours.
Foods with 10-15g Carbohydrates
Calling Your Diabetes Management Team
- Guidelines on when to call your diabetes management team
- Contact information for your diabetes management team
When to call your Diabetes Management Team
Be sure to talk to your health care provider for the plan that is most appropriate for you.
To avoid going out when you don’t feel well, put together a Sick Day Kit. A well-stocked Sick Day Kit will help you manage your diabetes to avoid complications, and help you alleviate the annoying symptoms of being sick.
A Sick Day Kit may include:
- Test strips
- Single ingredient, sugar free/low sugar products
- Pain reliever/fever reducer e.g. acetaminophen, ibuprofen
- Products specifically developed for people with diabetes like the Diabetic Tussin line of products:
- Allergy (chlorpheniramine)
- cold/flu gelcap (chlorpheniramine, dextromethorphan, acetaminophen)
- DM (dextromethorphan, guaifenesin)
- EX or Rite Aid Tussin Sugar Free (guaifenesin)
- Throat lozenges, e.g. Hall’s Sugar Free, Ricola sugar free herb, Fisherman’s Friend sugar-free
- Chewable sugar-free antacid & calcium supplement
- Topical nasal decongestants (Be sure to avoid oral decongestants)
- Easy to eat foods e.g. crackers, gelatin, applesauce, broth and soups
- Drinks: both caloric (non-diet) e.g. regular soda, juice & Non-caloric (diet) e.g. water, diet soda [Note – select the appropriate drink based on your ability to eat]
- A note pad to keep track of medication use, glucose and urine ketone levels, symptoms, temperature, your food diary and any other relevant details
Being prepared is the best way to avoid complications and make being sick a less unpleasant experience. Talk to your diabetes management team about the best Sick Day Plan for you. Your Rite Aid Pharmacist can address your medication concerns and help you find the best products for your Sick Day Kit.
