Home Managing Your Diabetes Managing Sick Days Your Diabetes Sick Day Plan

Your Diabetes Sick Day Plan

Before you get sick:

• Develop a Diabetes Sick Day Plan with your diabetes Healthcare Professional
• Discuss your Diabetes Sick Day Plan with family and friends as you may need their help when you are unwell

• Follow your Diabetes Sick Day Plan
• Be aware of the symptoms of hyperglycaemia and rising ketone levels
• Be aware of the symptoms of hypoglycaemia
• Test your blood glucose levels, check for ketones and take your temperature

• If you feel unwell or have any signs of illness, even if your blood glucose levels are normal
• If your blood glucose level is higher than 15 mmol/L for 6 hours or more, even if you feel OK
• If there are ketones in your urine or blood
• Always follow the advice of your diabetes healthcare professional – you may need to start your Diabetes Sick Day Plan earlier

• The only way to monitor the effect of illness on diabetes is to check your blood glucose levels more frequently
• If your blood glucose levels are above 15 mmol/L for 6 hours or longer you should check your blood glucose level every 2 hours
• If you can not reduce your glucose levels you may also check for elevated ketone levels.
  
  If your blood glucose is less than 4 mmol/L, follow the treatment advice provided by your healthcare professional
  
  

• Generally, you should continue using all of your diabetes medicines and insulin. The only exception is if your doctor has asked you to stop taking certain medicines as part of your Diabetes Sick Day Plan
• You may need extra insulin when you are unwell. The amount should be based on your blood glucose levels
• Follow instructions detailed in your Diabetes Sick Day Plan

• Managing your blood glucose levels when you are feeling unwell can be difficult. Don’t be afraid to call your doctor or diabetes team early so they can help
• It’s also a good idea to involve family and friends who can help monitor your blood glucose if you aren’t well enough to do so yourself

• You should keep eating to maintain your energy levels and prevent your blood glucose from dropping too low
• You should also keep drinking fluids to avoid becoming dehydrated

• Your blood glucose levels are above 15 mmol/L for more than 24 hours
• Your blood glucose levels continue to rise despite 2 extra insulin doses
• You have elevated ketone levels
• You feel drowsy, confused, have difficulty breathing or abdominal pain
• You have frequent vomiting for more than 2-4 hours
• You cannot keep your blood glucose levels above 4 mmol/L
• You and your family or friends are unable to help you monitor your blood glucose levels while you are unwell