Managing Diabetes When Sick

When you're sick, your body releases stress hormones that can send your blood sugar soaring—even if you're not eating. This isn't just inconvenient; it's dangerous. Managing diabetes when sick, the process of adjusting your care routine during illness to prevent dangerous spikes or drops in blood glucose isn't about guessing. It's about having a clear plan before you get sick. Most people don't realize that even a common cold can trigger diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) if blood sugar isn't monitored closely. The same goes for the flu, a stomach bug, or even a sinus infection. Your body doesn't care if you're just feeling under the weather—it reacts like it's under attack, and your insulin needs change fast.

Insulin adjustment when sick, the practice of changing your insulin dose based on illness-induced glucose fluctuations is often the most critical part of this process. You might need more insulin, even if you're eating less. Stopping insulin because you're not hungry is one of the biggest mistakes people make. On the flip side, diabetic illness management, a set of strategies including hydration, frequent glucose checks, and knowing when to call your doctor also means knowing when to reach out. If your blood sugar stays above 240 mg/dL for more than a day, or if you have ketones in your urine, you're in danger zone. You don't need to power through it alone. Hospitals see too many people with preventable complications because they waited too long to get help.

And it's not just insulin. Over-the-counter meds can mess with your numbers too. Cold syrups often have hidden sugar. Decongestants like pseudoephedrine can raise blood sugar. Even ibuprofen or acetaminophen can interfere with some glucose monitors if you're not careful. That’s why keeping a sick-day kit ready—test strips, ketone strips, sugar-free fluids, and easy-to-digest snacks—isn’t optional. It’s your safety net. You don’t need to be a diabetes expert to handle this. You just need a plan, written down, and shared with someone who can help if things go sideways.

What you’ll find below are real, practical guides from people who’ve been there. From how to adjust your insulin during a fever to which OTC meds are safe, these posts cut through the noise. No fluff. No theory. Just what works when your body is fighting something and your numbers won’t cooperate.