Sick Day Management

Don’t Let Illness Get You Down

Illness and infection put extra stress on the body and often raise blood glucose. The good news is that insulin pumps allow you to make adjustments to respond quickly and easily.

Even if you are unable to eat, you still need insulin. Depending on the results of blood glucose testing, your basal insulin may be sufficient to cover your insulin needs, or you may need to increase your insulin by taking frequent correction boluses, increasing your basal rate or both. Remember to consult with your healthcare professional prior to making therapy adjustments.

Sick-day Checklist

• Test you blood glucose and urine ketones every two hours, 24 hours a day
• Check urine ketones every time you urinate
• Keep accurate records of your blood glucose values, ketones, medication, fever, and all symptoms
• Keep in mind that extra insulin and fluids are needed when urine ketones are present, even if your blood glucose is within your target range
• If you are vomiting, call your endocrinologist, GP, or diabetes educator for proper treatment with fluids and insulin to avoid DKA

If you are too sick to monitor your diabetes carefully, ask a friend or family member to help. If there is no one to help you, ask your endocrinologist, GP, or diabetes educator for assistance. For medical emergencies in Australia, call ‘000’.