Diabetic Sick Days part 2

We have gone through several aspects of care and things you should do or think about when you are sick. I hope they made sense and you agree with them! Now on to the things you should NOT DO during this season, and in fact anytime you are sick if you have diabetes:{{more}}

DO NOT stop taking all of your diabetes medications without discussing with your doctor. Oh, please, do not. I cannot tell you how many times I have patients return to my clinic and tell me about some illness, a cold, bronchitis, stomach flu etc, they had a few weeks back. They show me their glucose meter with readings that are sky high and tell me they had stopped taking all their medications during that time because they were sick. And I always ask them the same thing time and time again: WHY DIDN’T YOU CALL ME??? As I mentioned last week, there are some situations where certain medication should probably be stopped, but there are many where nothing should be stopped, and in fact sometimes the doses may need to INCREASE, not decrease. Having high blood sugars while you are sick only makes things worse and can make the time to recover even longer. Please call your doctor before you make major changes to your medications regimen.

DO NOT give up entirely on your diabetic diet because you are sick. If you have stomach flu and can only keep certain things down, that is a different situation. But if you have a bad cold and feel sorry for yourself, that is no reason to eat the bag of cookies in the cabinet.

DO NOT forget some of the signs of serious illness. If you have not done it yet, it is time to call your doctor if:

You have a fever higher than 100.5 degrees F.

You cannot keep anything in your stomach for over a day

You are not urinating nearly as much as usual

Your urine or sweat smells sweet

You are losing weight quickly

You become confused

If any of these signs pop up, you may become seriously ill very, very quickly and will need the help of a medical professional. Do not lie in bed at home and “wait for it to pass.”

And don’t forget the best way to avoid getting sick this season: wash your hands!!!

Until next week, stay safe and healthy Vincies!

Anita Ramsetty, MD endodocs@endocrinehelp.com
Medical Director Endocrine Care Group
www.endocrinehelp.com
Tel: 843-798-4227