This includes having a personalised sick day action plan, and a sick day kit ready to use at the earliest sign of illness. Being unwell can make it more challenging to keep glucose levels in your target range. This is because of the stress hormones your body releases when you are sick. Stress hormones increase the amount of glucose the liver releases into the bloodstream. They can make it difficult to keep your blood glucose levels from rising too high. What do I do when I am sick? Start following your sick day action plan immediately if you feel unwell or have any signs of illness. Let a friend or family member know that you are unwell. Make sure you keep a list of contact numbers by the phone of your: support people doctor diabetes nurse practitioner diabetes educator local hospital or medical centre. Be prepared before you get sick. Read more about sick days. sick days during pregnancy for type 1 diabetes sick days during pregnancy for type 2 diabetes Living well with type 1 diabetes – what to do when you are sick fact sheet Like everyone, people living with type 1 diabetes get sick with everyday illnesses such as influenza (flu), a cold, gastro, or other common infections. It is important to be prepared and to know what to do. Download now Living well with type 2 diabetes – what to do when you are sick fact sheet Like everyone, people living with type 2 diabetes get sick with everyday illnesses such as influenza (flu), a cold, gastro, or other common infections. It is important to be prepared and to know what to do. Download now Sick day action plan A sick day action plan is step-by-step written instructions on how to manage your diabetes when you are unwell. Your doctor, diabetes nurse practitioner or diabetes educator can work with you to develop your personalised sick day action plan. Talk with family and friends about your sick day action plan and the help and support you might need when unwell. The plan should be reviewed every 1–2 years. Sick day kit A sick day kit will contain additional items you might need when feeling unwell, which means you don’t have to organise them when feeling unwell. Check your sick day kit every three months to make sure it is up to date and restock your kit if you have used it. Our fact sheets have a list of items to include in your sick day kit. Living well with type 1 diabetes – what to do when you are sick fact sheet Like everyone, people living with type 1 diabetes get sick with everyday illnesses such as influenza (flu), a cold, gastro, or other common infections. It is important to be prepared and to know what to do. Download now Living well with type 2 diabetes – what to do when you are sick fact sheet Like everyone, people living with type 2 diabetes get sick with everyday illnesses such as influenza (flu), a cold, gastro, or other common infections. It is important to be prepared and to know what to do. Download now Taking insulin when sick Talk to your doctor, diabetes nurse practitioner or diabetes educator for advice on making changes to your insulin. They will work with you to develop your personalised sick day action plan. Your sick day action plan should tell you how to manage your insulin doses when you are unwell. Keep drinking and (if possible) eating It is very important to keep up your fluid intake. This will reduce your risk of you becoming dehydrated. It is also very important to keep up your carbohydrate (carb) intake when you feel unwell to reduce your risk of a hypoglycaemia (also known as hypo or low blood glucose levels). Exercising when unwell If you have type 1 diabetes and your blood glucose levels are higher than 15 mmol/L, make sure you check for ketones before you exercise. It can be dangerous to exercise when blood glucose levels are high and/ or ketones are present. This means you do not have enough insulin in your bloodstream for your muscles to use glucose for energy. It can lead to rising blood glucose levels, a build-up of ketones and diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). Ask your doctor or diabetes nurse practitioner about extra insulin doses to help bring your blood glucose levels back into the target range. Physical activity fact sheet Regular physical activity is one of the most important things you can do to improve your general health. It can also help manage your diabetes. Available in other languages Download now Physical activity and type 1 diabetes webinar This pre-recorded webinar is for people with type 1 diabetes who want to learn how to exercise safely. Watch now Checking blood glucose levels when sick When you are unwell, you need to check your blood glucose levels more frequently—every 2–4 hours—and record all results. Illness or high blood glucose levels can lead to a serious condition called ketoacidosis (DKA), which can be life threatening. Read more in our fact sheets. Blood glucose monitoring fact sheet Checking your blood glucose levels can help you manage your diabetes. You will be able to see what makes your numbers go ‘up’ or ‘down’. Available in other languages Download now Managing hypoglycaemia fact sheet Hypos can occur in people who use insulin and some other types of glucose-lowering medications. Learn about how to recognise the signs and manage hypoglycaemia. Download now Insulin fact sheet Insulin is a hormone that allows glucose to move from the bloodstream into the body’s cells. Different people need different types of insulin. Your treatment needs to be tailored to your needs. Download now When to seek medical assistance Seek medical help to treat any illness or infection you may have. Contact your doctor early to avoid becoming more unwell and needing emergency care. Seek urgent medical attention if you have any signs and symptoms of DKA. Signs and symptoms of DKA include: feeling drowsy, confused or weak having deep, rapid breathing or shortness of breath having tummy pain not keeping fluid down or having persistent vomiting or diarrhoea showing signs or having symptoms of dehydration such as extreme thirst, dry mouth, weakness, confusion and not urinating having a ‘fruity’ smell to your breath. Sick day guidelines and action plans Go to Australian Diabetes Education Association or call 02 6287 4822 to get copies of the following: sick day management guidelines for people with diabetes a sick day action plan relevant to you. You can complete your action plan with your endocrinologist, diabetologist, diabetes nurse practitioner or diabetes educator. Find a sick day action plan To find a sick day action plan that is right for you, go to the Australian Diabetes Education Association website. Find out more More information and support Call the NDSS Helpline on 1800 637 700 and ask to speak to a diabetes educator. Find a diabetes educator near you Go to Australian Diabetes Educators Association to find a Credentialled Diabetes Educator (CDE) on their website. Go to Australian Diabetes Educators Association Find a health service or health professional near you Go to healthdirect to find a diabetes health service or diabetes health professional on their website. Go to Healthdirect Featured resources Living well with type 1 diabetes – what to do when you are sick fact sheet Like everyone, people living with type 1 diabetes get sick with everyday illnesses such as influenza (flu), a cold, gastro, or other common infections. It is important to be prepared and to know what to do. Download now Living well with type 2 diabetes – what to do when you are sick fact sheet Like everyone, people living with type 2 diabetes get sick with everyday illnesses such as influenza (flu), a cold, gastro, or other common infections. It is important to be prepared and to know what to do. Download now Physical activity fact sheet Regular physical activity is one of the most important things you can do to improve your general health. It can also help manage your diabetes. Available in other languages Download now Blood glucose monitoring fact sheet Checking your blood glucose levels can help you manage your diabetes. You will be able to see what makes your numbers go ‘up’ or ‘down’. Available in other languages Download now Managing hypoglycaemia fact sheet Hypos can occur in people who use insulin and some other types of glucose-lowering medications. Learn about how to recognise the signs and manage hypoglycaemia. Download now Insulin fact sheet Insulin is a hormone that allows glucose to move from the bloodstream into the body’s cells. Different people need different types of insulin. Your treatment needs to be tailored to your needs. Download now
