Small steps can help you manage your diabetes and prevent infections.
The effects of illness on people with diabetes can cause self-management challenges. Whether the disease is caused by a bacterial or viral infection, daily blood sugar control is affected. Being prepared and taking care to manage diabetes in the event of an infection is essential.
Pam Daniels, a Michigan State University educator, recently sat down with Lori King, RN and a certified diabetes care and specialist. Lori addressed ten common questions about diabetes prevention and self-care.
- How can people with diabetes be prepared for a bacterial or viral infection?
Getting ready covers many topics such as healthy eating, exercise, taking medications, and keeping blood sugar in range. By getting uncontrolled diabetes you are at increased risk for illness.
- What are the best ways to prevent viral infections?
Wash your hands several times a day: after using the bathroom, before eating or preparing food, after going to any public place, before checking for blood sugar. Soap and water are best, but hand sanitizers also work very well (do not use before checking your blood sugar). Keep hydrated. Stay away from others during the peak season of illness if possible. Keep your hands away from your face!
- What are the first steps a person with diabetes should take if they are feeling unwell?
Taking your temperature and blood sugar will give you an idea of whether something is brewing in your body. This could be viral where it just needs to run its course or bacterial, which may require antibiotics for treatment. Your doctor can help you decide your course of action. The American Diabetes Association has standard COVID-19 information and sick days.
- What are the most important care provisions available?
Meters, test strips, sugar-free and low-carb liquids, and a standard supply of all diabetes medications, such as oral bases, insulin, syringes, pump supplies and sugar tablets.
- What can blood sugar readings tell us about a possible illness?
Often, someone with diabetes will see their blood sugar rise before they have symptoms of illness.
- Should people with diabetes test blood sugar more often when they are sick?
Yes, it is important to test more often when you are ill. Blood sugar tends to be higher when you are sick. An increase in sugar-free / caffeine-free fluids can help but this may mean that you may benefit from more medication. Contact your doctor to discuss your blood sugar, your normal symptoms and whether you can safely increase your medications. Unfortunately, people may check their levels less when they are sick. Some of their symptoms such as vomiting, headache, nausea may be related to their blood sugar and not just their illness. An examination every four hours and recording it in a log will help you be ready when the doctor requests this information.
- Should vitamin D and other substances be taken?
Medications are more helpful, if taken regularly, not just in times of illness. Talk to your doctor about which supplements you might benefit from and more importantly what level you should take. If you take more than you need, the extra is just released into the urine or stored in fat cells.
- Are there any common symptoms or first signs that people with diabetes may have?
People with diabetes get the onset of illness in the same way as those without diabetes, except high blood sugar. If you are checking for ketones you may be noticing ketones in your urine, which can cause dehydration. Report this to your doctor. When blood sugar is raised you may experience symptoms such as increased urination, excessive thirst, fatigue, blurred vision and / or headache.
- At what point should a person with diabetes who is feeling unwell contact their doctor?
You cannot keep food down for more than 24 hours. You will have diarrhea and / or cholera for more than six hours. You feel sleepy or can’t think clearly. This may be a sign of high blood sugar. You cannot hold down any lifts for more than four hours. Your blood sugar is over 250 mg / dl for more than 24 hours and this is not normal for you, or whenever you have questions or concerns.
10. What reading skills or defensive measures are most important?
First, have a plan! It is an essential tool to ensure that you are prepared for emergencies or unexpected situations. For more on making a diabetes self-care plan, visit the Have a Plan website. Next, move towards a healthier lifestyle, which includes eating healthy foods such as more fruits and vegetables and low-fat foods.
Exercise! The recommendation is 150 minutes a week, but nothing is better than nothing.
Hold your seasonal diabetes meetings that involve blood work. This may let you know in advance that something needs to be addressed.
Take your medicine! This will help maintain your A1c range (recommended between 6.5-8% depending on your age and other health problems) also know how your tires work and how to take them to right.
While we can be as prepared as possible viruses are highly contagious. Always contact your healthcare team about diabetes healthcare concerns. For more information on COVID-19 and diabetes, visit the Covid-19 and Diabetes website of the Michigan Department of Health & Human Services.
Michigan State University Expansion also provides health and nutrition-related workshops on becoming more self-managing on chronic diseases such as diabetes. For more information and resources, visit our Diabetes website.
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