| What Diabetes Is: Chapter Five
Taking Care of Your Diabetes at Special Times
Diabetes is part of your life. It's very important to take care of it when
you're sick, when you're at school or work, when you travel, or when you're
pregnant or thinking about having a baby. Here are some tips to help you
take care of your diabetes at these times.
In this chapter:
When You're Sick
When You're at School or Work
When You're Away From Home
When You're Planning a Pregnancy
When You're Sick
Take good care of yourself when you have a cold, the flu, an infection, or
other illness. Being sick can raise your blood glucose. When you're sick, do
the following:
Check your blood glucose every 4 hours. Write down the results.
Keep taking your insulin and your diabetes pills. Even if you can't
keep food down, you still need your diabetes medicine. Ask your doctor or
diabetes educator whether to change the amount of insulin or pills you take.
Drink at least a cup (8 ounces) of water or other calorie-free,
caffeine-free liquid every hour while you're awake.
If you can't eat your usual food, try drinking juice or eating
crackers, popsicles, or soup.
If you can't eat at all, drink clear liquids such as ginger ale. Eat
or drink something with sugar in it if you have trouble keeping food down.
Test your urine for ketones if
- your blood glucose is over 240
- you can't keep food or liquids down
Call your health care provider right away if
- your blood glucose has been over 240 for longer than a day
- you have moderate to large amounts of ketones in your urine
- you feel sleepier than usual
- you have trouble breathing
- you can't think clearly
- you throw up more than once
- you've had diarrhea for more than 6 hours
ACTION STEPS
If you use insulin
Take your insulin, even if you've been throwing up. Ask your doctor
about how to adjust your insulin dose, based on your blood glucose test
results.
ACTION STEPS
If you DON'T use insulin
Take your diabetes pills, even if you've been throwing up.
When You're at School or Work
Take care of your diabetes when you're at school or at work:
Follow your meal plan.
Take your medicine and check your blood glucose as usual.
Tell your teachers, friends, or close co-workers about the signs of
hypoglycemia. You may need their help if your blood glucose drops too low.
Keep snacks nearby and carry some with you at all times to treat
hypoglycemia.
Tell your company nurse or school nurse that you have diabetes.
When You're Away From Home
Taking care of your diabetes, even on vacation, is very important.
Here are some tips:
Follow your meal plan as much as possible when you eat out. Always
carry a snack with you in case you have to wait to be served.
Limit your drinking of beer, wine, or other alcoholic beverages. Ask
your diabetes educator how much alcohol you can safely drink. Eat something
when you drink.
If you're taking a long trip by car, check your blood glucose before
driving. Stop and check your blood glucose every 2 hours. Always carry
snacks like fruit, crackers, juice, or soda in the car in case your blood
glucose drops too low.
Ask ahead of time for a diabetes meal if you're traveling by plane.
Most airlines serve special meals for people with health needs. Carry food
(like crackers or fruit) with you in case meals are late.
Carry your medicines (insulin, insulin needles, and diabetes pills)
and your blood testing supplies with you. Never put them in your checked
luggage.
Ask your health care team how to adjust your medicines, especially
your insulin, if you're traveling across time zones.
Take comfortable, well-fitting shoes on vacation. You'll probably be
walking more than usual, so you should take extra care of your feet.
If you're going to be away for a long time, ask your doctor for a
written prescription for your diabetes medicine and the name of a doctor in
the place you're going to visit.
Don't count on buying extra supplies when you're traveling, especially
if you're going to another country. Different countries use different kinds
of insulin, needles, and pills.
ACTION STEPS
If you use insulin
When you travel,
Buy special insulated bags to carry your insulin and to keep it from
freezing or getting too hot.
Take extra needles, insulin, and blood glucose test strips in case of
loss or breakage.
Ask your doctor for a letter saying that you have diabetes and need
insulin shots.
When You're Planning a Pregnancy
Planning ahead is very important if you want to have a baby. High blood
glucose can be harmful to both a mother and her unborn baby. Even before you
become pregnant, your blood glucose should be close to the normal range.
Keeping blood glucose near normal before and during pregnancy helps protect
both mother and baby.
Your insulin needs may change when you're pregnant. Your doctor may want you
to take more insulin and check your blood glucose more often. If you take
diabetes pills, you'll take insulin instead when you're pregnant.
If you plan to have a baby, do the following:
Work with your health care team to get your blood glucose as close to
the normal range as possible.
See a doctor who has experience in taking care of pregnant women with
diabetes.
Have your eyes and kidneys checked. Pregnancy can make eye and kidney
problems worse.
Don't smoke, drink alcohol, or use harmful drugs.
Follow the meal plan you get from your dietitian or diabetes educator
to make sure you and your unborn baby have a healthy diet.
If you're already pregnant, see your doctor right away. It's not too late to
bring your blood glucose close to normal so that you'll stay healthy during
the rest of your pregnancy.
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