Version 1.0.0, 1 May 2026. 002425-NDSS Key facts Looking after your diabetes while you are in hospital helps you get better sooner. Stress, illness and infection can raise your glucose levels. Your food, activity levels, glucose checks and medicines may change. You may need to fast. If you know you are going to hospital, tell your diabetes health professionals so they can help you plan. Let hospital staff know that you have diabetes as soon you are admitted to hospital. Ask questions and tell hospital staff if you are worried about your diabetes during your stay. Related pages Surgeries and procedures with diabetes Sick days with diabetes Scans, radiation and diabetes devices Caring for an older person with diabetes High blood glucose levels Find a health service Find a health professional or pharmacy in your area. On this page Hospital and your glucose levels Planning for a hospital stay When you arrive at hospital Looking after your own diabetes When to ask for help What this means for you More information and support Hospital and your glucose levels When you are in hospital with diabetes, illness, infection and surgery can all increase your glucose levels. Changes to your usual routine can also affect your glucose levels. These include changes to: meal types or timing, or needing to fast activity levels glucose level checks insulin and/or medicines stress, anxiety or pain. Keep your glucose levels in your target range Your glucose levels can affect how quickly you recover and how long you stay in hospital. High glucose levels can slow healing and make you more likely to get an infection or other problems in hospital. Low glucose levels may increase your risk of falls, affect your brain and heart, or mean you need to stay in hospital for longer. Keeping your glucose levels in your target range before, during and after your hospital stay will lower your risk of these problems and help you get better sooner. Planning for a hospital stay If you know you will be going to hospital, talk to your diabetes doctor, nurse, or educator ahead of time. They can help you plan for looking after your diabetes during your stay. Things to discuss with your diabetes health professional How to look after your diabetes before and after you go to hospital What to bring with you How to manage different meal times and types If you will need to change your insulin or diabetes medicines What to do if your glucose level gets too high or too low If your sick day plan is up to date Who and when to call if there is a problem Ask them to write a diabetes plan for your hospital stay that you can give to hospital staff. Going to hospital for surgery or a medical procedure? Learn how to plan and what to consider in our Surgeries and procedures fact sheet When you arrive at hospital Whether your hospital stay is for diabetes or another reason, always make sure that hospital nurses and doctors know you have diabetes. Tell them how you usually manage your diabetes, including: all diabetes medicines or insulin you use and the doses all other medicines or supplements you use and the doses when you usually check your glucose levels if you use continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) and/or an insulin pump. If your diabetes health professional has made a diabetes plan for your hospital stay, give it to hospital staff. Can you use your CGM and insulin pump in hospital? You can usually keep using your diabetes devices in hospital. But this will depend on any surgery or procedure you are having, and hospital rules. You may have to switch to finger prick checks and/or insulin injections during your hospital stay. Tell hospital staff about any devices you are using and ask if you can keep using them. Looking after your own diabetes in hospital Hospitals may have their own rules for looking after people with diabetes. This may include nurses checking your glucose levels and/or giving insulin at certain times. If you usually look after your own diabetes and would like to keep doing so in hospital, ask your hospital nurses and doctors if this is possible. Keep in mind that the way you usually look after your diabetes may need to change while you are in hospital. Your hospital team can help you make these changes. When to ask for help Tell your hospital nurses or doctors if: you have symptoms of low blood glucose (a hypo), such as feeling hungry, sweaty, shaky, confused or dizzy your glucose levels are high and not getting better you are worried for any reason about your diabetes or general health. Don’t ever be afraid to ask questions or speak up about your treatment in hospital. You can also ask to speak to the hospital’s diabetes doctor for advice. What this means for you If you have diabetes and need to go to hospital, talking and planning with your diabetes health professionals and hospital team is key. This will help them make sure your diabetes is well looked after during your stay, so you can feel better as soon as possible. More information and support Call the NDSS Helpline on 1800 637 700 to ask to speak to a diabetes educator. Find a credentialled diabetes educator at the Australian Diabetes Educators Association website at www.adea.com.au Get more tips for your hospital stay from the Better Health Channel website at www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/servicesandsupport/staying-in-hospital Learn about your healthcare rights on the Healthdirect website at www.healthdirect.gov.au/your-healthcare-rights Disclaimer This information is intended as a guide only. It should not replace individual medical advice and if you have any concerns about your health or further questions, you should contact your health professional. Sources Diabetes in hospital. Healthcare providers’ guide to diabetes management for inpatients. Australian Diabetes Society (ADS) and NDSS, 2022. Personal insulin pumps in hospital settings in adults with type 1 diabetes – guidelines for health professionals. ADS and the Australian Diabetes Educators Association (ADEA), 2025. Diabetes care in the hospital: Standards of care in diabetes. American Diabetes Association (ADA), 2025.
