Insulin During Illness: What You Need to Know About Dosing and Safety

When you're sick, your body releases stress hormones that raise blood sugar—even if you're not eating. This is why insulin during illness, the adjusted use of insulin when sick to manage elevated blood glucose levels becomes critical for people with diabetes. It’s not about skipping doses or guessing—you need a clear plan to prevent diabetic ketoacidosis, severe dehydration, or hospitalization. Many people think illness means eating less, so they take less insulin. That’s often the opposite of what’s needed.

Your body fights infection like a furnace burning fuel. Even a cold or flu can push your blood sugar up by 50% or more. That’s why blood sugar control, the ongoing process of maintaining glucose levels within a safe range requires more attention, not less. You might need to check your blood sugar every 2 to 4 hours, even at night. And if you’re on insulin, you’ll likely need to increase your dose—sometimes significantly. This isn’t a one-size-fits-all situation. Type 1 diabetics often need extra rapid-acting insulin to counteract the stress response. Type 2 diabetics on insulin may also need adjustments, especially if they’re on basal-bolus regimens. The key is knowing your personal sick-day rules before you get sick.

diabetes management, the comprehensive approach to controlling blood glucose through medication, diet, and monitoring during illness includes more than just insulin. Staying hydrated is non-negotiable. Dehydration makes high blood sugar worse and increases the risk of kidney strain. Sipping water, broth, or sugar-free electrolyte drinks helps. If you can’t eat solid food, you still need carbohydrates—just in liquid form like juice or regular soda (in small, measured amounts) to prevent low blood sugar from skipped meals. And don’t stop checking ketones if you’re on insulin. Ketones mean your body is breaking down fat for energy because it can’t use glucose. That’s dangerous.

There’s a big difference between feeling under the weather and being in medical danger. If your blood sugar stays above 240 mg/dL for more than two checks, if you have moderate to large ketones, if you’re vomiting, or if you’re confused or breathing fast—you need help now. Many people wait too long because they think they’ll "just push through." But insulin during illness isn’t something to wing. It’s a medical priority.

What you’ll find in the posts below isn’t theory—it’s real-world guidance. You’ll see how people handle insulin adjustments when they have the flu, a UTI, or even a minor injury. You’ll learn how to talk to your doctor about sick-day plans, what over-the-counter meds are safe to take, and how to avoid common mistakes that lead to ER visits. No fluff. No guesswork. Just what works when your body is under stress and your blood sugar is out of sync.