Sick day tips

Sick day tips

  • If you become ill or get an infection, your blood glucose levels will often rise.
  • If you are taking insulin, continue your insulin as prescribed.
  • Check your blood glucose levels as directed by your educator or health care provider.
  • If a blood glucose level is higher than recommended for two readings in a row, check your urine ketones.
  • If your ketone reading is moderate or large, call your health care provider and provide your blood glucose and ketone readings.
  • If you can't eat your regular foods, try these foods in place of carbohydrate foods (starches, fruits and milk). Replace one carbohydrate food (15 grams) with one of the following:
    • 4 ounces fruit juice
    • 4 ounces regular pop
    • 6 saltine crackers
    • ½ twin Popsicle®
    • ½ cup regular gelatin (Jell-O®)
    • 8 ounces soup
    • ½ cup unsweetened applesauce
    • 1 slice bread
  • If you can't tolerate the replacement foods, try to eat one serving of a carbohydrate-containing food every one to two hours to prevent low blood glucose and dehydration.
  • Drink a total of six to eight 8-ounce glasses of fluids during the day to avoid dehydration . Take small sips.
  • After three to four hours without vomiting, gradually return to your normal meal plan.

Source: Allina Health's Patient Education Department, Gestational Diabetes: When You Have Diabetes During Pregnancy, third edition, ISBN 1-931876-21-6
Reviewed By: Reviewed by Allina Health's Patient Education Department experts
First Published: 11/27/2006
Last Reviewed: 01/20/2014