Planning ahead can help you stay in control of your blood sugar levels during illness. Being prepared can prevent a hospitalization or emergency room visit.

Complete this checklist of “things to do” with your doctor or diabetes educator before you get sick. Review it once a year for changes.

□   Know to keep taking your insulin or diabetes medications unless

____________________

____________________

Adjust your insulin by

____________________

____________________

□   Plan to maintain a meal plan containing 150 grams of carbohydrates. Have on hand for illness the following foods, which contain 15 grams of carbohydrates each in the amounts shown.

  • apple juice (1/2 cup)

  • regular soda (1/2 cup)

  • regular gelatin (1/2 cup)

  • crackers (6 squares)

  • bouillon (no calories)

  • sports drink (1 cup)

  • other: __________

□   Know when to monitor your blood glucose.

____________________

____________________

____________________

____________________

____________________

□   Know when to monitor your urine ketones:

  • When blood sugar level is greater than ____________.

  • Regardless of blood sugar level, when vomiting or experiencing diarrhea.

Remember to check the bottle of ketone test strips for an expiration date.

□   Know when to call your doctor or diabetes educator:

  • If your blood sugar level is greater than ________

  • If your ketones are _____for more than _____hours or if you do not urinate for more than ______hours

  • If vomiting lasts longer than _____hours

  • If you are dehydrated. Signs of dehydration include dry tongue and difficulty breathing.

  • If surgery or a test is planned that will prevent you from eating normally

  • Any time you have a question or concern about your blood sugar level

□   Know who to call during illness or an emergency:

Doctor ___________________

Daytime phone:

____________________

Evening/Weekend:

____________________

Diabetes educator

____________________

Daytime phone:

____________________

Evening/Weekend:

____________________

Permission is granted to reproduce this material for nonprofit educational purposes. Written permission is required for all other purposes. 2/02