It’s noon on a Thursday, and I can’t go to lunch. My blood sugar is 330, way above the normal range of 80 to 120. At this rate, it’ll be another couple of hours until it’s low enough for me to safely eat anything.
My blood sugar didn’t get to this level because I binged on ice cream or ate cake. In fact, I haven’t had anything to eat since 7 p.m. last night, when my blood sugar was normal.
But at some point during dinner, I began to feel funny and developed a fever. I didn’t even finish the food on my plate. By bedtime it was full-blown stomach flu.
I hate being sick. I’m used to having control of my diabetes, but illness strips me of that ability.
What causes high blood sugar in sick diabetics is known: The body releases hormones to fight off the disease; in turn, these hormones raise blood sugar levels and limit the effectiveness of insulin.
But what to do about it? Theoretically, I could take more insulin. (I failed to do this last night because I didn’t think this would be a big deal. Unfortunately, now I’m at work and my insulin is at home.) I could exercise, but I don’t feel like it. I’m sick, for Pete’s sake!
The American Diabetes Association (ADA) recommends creating a sick-day plan—including a sick-specific diet. Of course, this is supposed to be done in coordination with your doctors and before you get sick. I missed that somewhere in my education.
The ADA also recommends that sick diabetics drink lots of water. This should flush some of the extra sugar from my body and keep me hydrated.
But I really, really want lunch. Take another swig from your water bottle, Sean, and quit complaining.
I hate being sick.
Comments (6)
Sounds like you do a good job monitoring your diabetes and want a better way to keep it under control with diet and exercise. This site, http://www.rvita.com/conditions/diabetes.html, gives efficacy data for different natural approaches to control diabetes. You might find something useful in one of the categories.
just wondering why you went to work if you were sick!
An excellent question! Aside from the high blood sugar (and the hunger), I felt fine that morning and wasn’t running a fever.
Sean
I don’t think any diabetic should go from 7pm in the evening til noon the next day without food. Water is important as you say…but easily digested protein would defend your body from further assault. Skip the carbs when blood sugar elevated but do not fast. Bea
I’m a Type 1 diabetic, and I know exactly how you feel. Illness of any kind seriously impact my ability to keep my BG in control. Everybody says to eat anyway. I do it, but I have to use LOTS of extra insulin.
Hey Doug,
Some times I wish I was taking insulin only to manage my disease—just for instances like this. Of course, then I come to my senses. Still, it’s one advantage the insulin set has over those of us either using slow-acting insulin or meds to manage. You can boost up in emergency. I just wish I could consistently predict what my body dished out on me.
Cheers,
Sean